Post-Pandemic Exercise Injuries Common in US Adults
As the impact of COVID-19 is decreasing in many places around the world, many people are returning to their old routines — such as going back to the office and exercising.
But it may not be so easy to go back: a new survey has found that 75% of Americans have recently injured themselves while doing exercise, and the pandemic may be the cause.
The survey was done by OnePoll and Curad, a company that makes home medical products. It was found that almost 70% of the 2,000 US adults surveyed stopped their usual fitness routine during the pandemic.
Some of the reasons for this included having to wear a mask while exercising and — for 58% — being sick with COVID-19.
Of those that reported recent injuries, 64% said they probably went back to their old exercise routine too quickly after being inactive for a long time.
The most common injuries were in the knees, hands, feet and ankles — as well as torn muscles. The average person took 10 weeks to recover from an injury.
Gloria Beim, a doctor who has worked with America's athletes at the Olympics, said it's important to start exercising again slowly.
"Jumping back in too quickly can put you at risk of pulling muscles or even more serious injuries," she explained.
According to the most recent data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — published in 2018 — even before the pandemic, fewer than one-quarter of Americans were getting enough exercise.
