The Downside of Weightlifting

Whether it's neglecting to apply sunscreen while tanning or straining a muscle from overexertion at the gym, most people abuse their body in some way. However, a 2010 study analyzing 19 years of injury-related data from a pool of 100 hospitals suggests that weightlifters may be ranking higher on the body-abuse scale than the average person.

The study, conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, recorded 25,335 weight-training-related injuries reported by hospital emergency departments nationwide. Adding the anticipated injuries not reported, the center estimates the real number to be near a million nationwide.

The data, spanning from 1990-2007, also determined that annual injuries increased by almost half during that period—suggesting that people are engaging in the sport without the needed training.

In explaining the sport's apparent popularity, Isaac Romandia, an all-natural amateur body builder and employee in Watsonville, says it's all about the aesthetics.

“I honestly believe it's 100 percent cosmetics,” said Romandia, 21. “Everyone wants to look better, [and] all that healthy lifestyle stuff goes out the window.”

Nazul Hernandez, a masseuse and floor trainer at in Capitola, said many people turn to weights because they falsely believe it's the best way to improve their physique.

“Everyone wants to look good, and some think weightlifting is the only way, when in reality, there's other ways like Pilates and yoga,” Hernandez, 29, said.

Hernandez said it's this kind of mindset that leads to many weight-lifting injuries among men—an idea that the study further substantiates, with 82 percent of the recorded injuries happening to men.

“Usually males will overdo it, so they're the first ones to get hurt,” Hernandez said. “It's a very common thing to see—rotator cuff injuries, various ligaments get too tight or overused, and they never get an actual break or release.”

The most common injuries reported included crushing a body part between weights, overexertion, muscle pulls and loss of balance.

Brandon Burgess, a personal trainer at , attributes weight-lifting injuries to poor form, saying it's common for weightlifters to injure themselves when bench pressing or squatting.

When people are bench pressing, he said, it's common for them to injure their shoulders or front deltoids or strain the rotator cuff. "Another one is your quad or knees from squatting very heavy and not having good squatting form,” Burgess, 22, said.

Hernandez said he often encounters people who have ruined their nerves and cartilage from using machines too often and free weights too little. He said the cartilage becomes ruined from the stagnant movement one's body endures while frozen in a machine and that leg extensions can damage the knees, while different types of bicep curls can ruin weightlifters' forearms.

The need to warm-up, stretch and engage in cross-functional training is evident, and Kevin Sgro, a consultant at in Santa Cruz, said weightlifters should also be taking vitamins to help protect against injury.

“The Joint Vitapak has everything for lubricating joints to rebuild strength, cartilage, tendons and ligaments,” Sgro said. “It's good for weightlifters to make sure they can sustain a lot of weight.”

Romandia and Sgro also recommend using Glutamine, a non-essential amino acid that helps with muscle recovery, saying it helps repair tissue damaged from working out.

For information on how to lift weights safely, review these techniques.