Home gyms are very popular in the United States, with our current tough economy purchases are at an all-time high. Weight training is very safe activity compared to football, skiing, or basketball but weight raining injuries has increased 38% since 1998. About 25 percent of injuries occur because of abuse or misuse of equipment, and injuries occur twice as often in home gyms as in health clubs. Nearly 75 percent of injuries occur in people younger than 24. The greatest increase in injury rate has been among the very young (under 5) and older adults. These injury rates can decrease with proper supervision and instruction as well as consistent equipment maintenance.

*Portions of this excerpt taken from Basic Weight Training for Men & Women by Thomas D. Fahey (McGraw Hill 2010)