Caution urged for those taking up high intensity workouts

Some health experts caution those who train at high intensity.

Over the past two years, there have been over 500 new high-intensity interval training (HIIT)-related ACC injury claims.

According to ACC data, the cost of new (279) and active (336) HIIT-related injuries from 2020 to 2021 is $178,254.

Last year, there were 228 new claims and 270 active claims totaling $135,394.

The majority of claims are for soft tissue injuries.

Sports physio Bradley Jones says his Oakland clinic has seen a definite increase in gym-related injuries.

Jones told 1News that this is partly due to the growing popularity of high-intensity workouts.

“High intensity certainly has its place, but it’s certainly becoming more popular in the modern world, where people are spending less time and trying to make more money with their exercise.

“I think trying to get more exercise in less time fits into the modern lifestyle and is part of the reason why it’s become more common.”

He said that while high-intensity workouts have many known benefits, they also come with risks.

“A lot of it is about adaptation as to whether you are accustomed to that type of exercise and highly adapted.

“People get more injuries when they do things too quickly.”

Orthopedic surgeon Mark Crutworthy says that while people do get caught up in the fitness fad, they don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing.

He said injuries often happen when people get into fitness and do more than they train for.

“There is a kind of belief in the trainer world that in order to be better, you have to try harder.

“People have tremendous variability in their fitness, health status, tolerance level and reaction to injury.”

Crattworthy said the “no pain, no gain” mentality is wrong and will eventually lead to injury.

But personal trainer and owner of Playground Fitness, Rhys Jolly, says it’s not the HIIT method that’s the problem, it’s the exercise that’s prescribed.

“Most of the time, HIIT-related injuries are headquartered prescribing workouts that need to be adapted for all categories of people, motivated by new and exciting sensations while being delivered on TV monitors. It comes from the environment.

“This is the perfect storm to throw either advanced exercises with no ability to recede, adaptations to humans, or exercises containing 74 different exercises that should be seen in the circus.

Overall, Jolly said New Zealand needs to focus more on health and well-being with accessible education from professionals.