What to Do If You’re Injured at the Gym

Going to the gym is a common practice for many people. It’s a great place to improve your physical health and remove some stress. However, if you’re unfortunate enough to experience an injury while you’re at the gym, this will only add to your stress. To help alleviate some of this potential stress, below are the steps you should follow if you experience an injury while exercising at the gym. By following these steps, you’ll quicken your recovery from the injury and know how to best proceed in the aftermath.

Seek Medical Assistance

The first thing you should do if you experience an injury at the gym is to seek medical assistance, if necessary. It’s possible to receive some serious injuries while exercising and the sooner you get medical assistance, the better. Whether you sprain an ankle, drop a heavy weight, tear a muscle, or something else, the most important thing to worry about is your health. Alert a staff member at the gym that you need medical assistance or ask another patron nearby to do it for you if you’re unable. Gym staff may be able to assist you on their own or contact emergency medical services if needed.

Document the Injury

As soon as you’re able, you’ll want to gather some documentation about the incident. You’ll want this documentation if you determine that someone else was liable for your injury and that you want to pursue legal action. One of the easiest things you can do is take pictures of the accident scene using your cell phone. Take pictures of anything that may have caused the injury, including unsafe equipment or an unsafe environment.

After that, you may want to secure the contact information of anyone who witnessed the event. Write down their name and number, then ask if it’s okay to contact them if you need witness testimony. If you visited the gym with someone you know, ask them to write down their recollections so that you have a witness statement.

Determine if You Need a Lawyer

Next, you’ll want to determine if you need a lawyer to pursue legal action. Consulting with a personal injury attorney is a good idea, as they can tell you whether or not you have a case. Look for a personal injury lawyer in your area, then interview a couple of candidates. Learn about their history with personal injury law along with their rates. In some cases, the lawyer will only receive a payment if you win, which can help save you money on legal fees. If you’re unsure of if you need a lawyer, think about whether the injury was the fault of someone else (including the gym) and whether you received a significant injury.

Give Yourself Time to Recover

After you experience an injury at the gym, it’s essential that you give yourself time to recover your health. All too often, people go back to exercising before they are completely recovered. This makes them more likely to aggravate the injury or to experience a new injury. For example, if you sprain your ankle while on the treadmill, you don’t want to go back to running a few days later. Give yourself some time off to heal, then ease yourself back into the workouts. If possible, you can explore other workouts that don’t involve the injured part of your body until you recover, allowing you to continue exercising.

Learn Proper Exercise Form

One of the most common reasons that people become injured at the gym is because they don’t follow proper form. If you have poor form while exercising, you’re not only cheating yourself out of the best possible workout but you’re more likely to injure yourself. There are several things you can do to improve your form and reduce injury risk.

One option is to find videos online that demonstrate the proper form for your desired workout. You can also consult with staff members at the gym, who likely know the best way to perform each exercise. Finally, ask someone to analyze your form while you’re doing the workout or do it in front of a mirror to ensure you’re doing it correctly.

Know What to Do Before Your Next Gym Visit

When you experience an injury at the gym, your mind becomes solely focused on the pain involved. If this happens, you don’t want to stress about what you should be doing next. This is why it’s helpful to know the steps beforehand so that you don’t have to try to figure them out in the moment. Hopefully, you won’t need the guide above, but if you ever do, you’ll be glad you learned the recommended steps in advance.