Some 209 accidents have been attributed to personal training over the six years through 2023 as more people seek customized fitness programs tailored to their needs, according to a report released by the Consumer Safety Investigation Commission.
Hiring a one-on-one personal trainer that offers individual training programs and dietary advice has become popular in recent years as more customers have become more health conscious following the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, this increase in demand has not come without risks.
Out of 505 gym-related accidents recorded between 2018 and 2023, more than 40% involved personal training, the report said based on data on accidents reported from central and local governments.
Accidents involving personal trainers have been on the rise since 2022 ¡ª 58 cases in 2022 and 50 cases in 2023 ¡ª up from 27 in 2019, it said.
Of the 505 cases reported, 61 cases required more than a month of recovery for the injured, and 23 cases required a recovery time of three weeks to a month. Some cases involved spine or lumbar fractures, with nine reported as serious injuries.
Women, mainly in their 40s and 50s, comprised 91% of those injured.
In October, a woman in her 50s sustained a compressed vertebral fracture during a free trial at a personal gym. Another case in July 2022 involved a woman in her 40s who injured her knee ligaments while training.
The commission¡¯s findings showed significant differences in the qualifications and methods of personal trainers. Currently, there is no legislation to regulate personal trainers or a unified qualification they need to pass to become one.
They also work on different contracts from being hired as a gym employee to a sole proprietor.
¡°The quality of service depends on the quality of the trainer, which makes it difficult for consumers to avoid accidents¡± on their own, the survey said.
The commission aims to pinpoint the underlying causes of these accidents and draft measures to avoid a recurrence to ensure the safety of people using personal training programs.
The commission has been investigating the cause of accidents involving personal trainers since May 2023 as more accidents began to be reported, interviewing industry groups and organizations offering personal trainer certification. It is also interviewing gym operators and studying relevant legislation at home and abroad.
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