Fitness goers are incurring injury as they make the most of their daily exercise allocation and new home workout routines, according to new research.
Data shows a sharp rise in injury-related internet searches, including those commonly associated with home exercise and running, since Monday 23 March, the date Boris Johnson announced that all but essential businesses were to close with immediate effect, found the research by fit4thefight, an initiative created to help fitness professionals to continue offering their services during the current COVID-19 lockdown.
Google searches for knee pain have increased 471%, in the six weeks since strict movement rules were placed on the British public, while searches for sprained ankle increased 267% in the same time period.
Online queries for low back pain have increased by 157% in a month and a half, as Britons use incorrect form and posture for home workouts, which include squats and lunges.
Searches for solutions to press up pain were also at a 12-month high, with poor technique likely to increase the strain on joints.
The data also shows an increase in pained runners, with searches for shin splints up 194% since 23 March. Queries for pulled muscles are also up 80%, as Brits do their own unguided workouts using makeshift equipment.
The increased appetite for running outdoors comes as exercise is one of the few activities housebound Britons can leave their homes to do, while friends and family challenge each other to take part in exercise and donate to charity via social media. The popularity of home workouts led by Joe Wicks has also seen a wave of new people exercise from home.
Due to hospital pressures and fears of infection, A&E department also recorded their lowest attendance in a decade during March, as the public turn to the internet to diagnose their medical problems and injuries before contacting a medical professional.
Anthony Franklin, founder and CEO of fit4thefight commented: “It is great to see millions of Britons increasing the amount of exercise they do while observing lockdown rules. However, the lack of guidance from professionals and equipment means that the level of injuries has surged.
We would encourage people to seek advice from fitness professionals and personal trainers, and where possible complete exercise techniques and classes specifically tailored to them and their objectives.
fit4thefight enables consumers to book one-to-one and group sessions helping people stay active while staying home, and the app is full of choice and diverse classes.”
While fitness apps including Strava, Nike Training Club, and Map My Run have seen spikes in downloads over the past six weeks, fit4thefight, the fibodo powered app to enable PTs to continue to deliver tailored classes to their clients, remotely, is on track to sign-up 500 personal trainers in May, and has already reached over 200,000 individuals to date.
To find out more about fibodo, visit www.fibodo.com