Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

UK citizens Pulling Sports Sickies

BRITS PULLING SPORTS SICKIES
New survey reveals the true cost of sporting injuries

Sports injuries are costing British employers a staggering £9 BILLION every year, according to new research.

Thousands of British people phone in sick on a Monday morning after prancing around the living room to home workouts during the weekend.

The poll of 2,500 people, conducted by the joint supplement Lubramine, revealed that fans of celebrity fitness videos are the biggest culprits of the Monday morning injury sickie.

The turn of the millennium has seen a wealth of celebrities - such as Jade Goody, Davina McCall, Coleen McLoughlin and Nell McAndrew - bring out fitness videos, encouraging couch potatoes to exercise in the comfort of their own home.

But home workouts are leaving the average adult unable to go to work at least twice days a year.

Based on the average annual salary of £24,908 this costs British businesses £191.60 per employee - or £9,005,200,000 across the 47,000,000 adults living in the UK.

And Mondays are the worst day for sickies - as 60 per cent of folk admit they over-do it on a weekend.

Leading rheumatologist and joint health expert Doctor Taher Mahmud says "Exercise has many health benefits, but people need to remember if they aren't use to exercising, over exertion can put additional strain on their ligaments and joints resulting in injury and time off work"

But incorrect exercise clothing is to blame for many sports injuries - often leaving people hobbling around or clutching pulled muscles the following day.

A staggering 65 per cent do not even wear shoes to exercise, whilst a worrying 41 per cent of people work out to home videos in just their underwear.

And when it comes to exercising properly a third of folk say they never warm up before working out, and 52 per cent never warm down.

Doctor Taher Mahmud continues "Warming up before exercise and cooling down afterwards is vital to help prevent injury. Wearing the correct clothing, especially trainers can help provide the necessary support to for your ankles, knees, hips and back. “

Studies have show that taking a daily joint supplement such as Lubramine may also help improve joint flexibility and mobility and so may help prevent injury.

Unsurprisingly, 55 per cent of bosses are completely unsympathetic when employees complain of suffering with sports injuries.

And one in 10 colleagues have been known to tease others about their pulled muscles or achy limbs.

A third of exercise enthusiasts say they find it difficult to concentrate when at work with an injury.

Working out at home is the preferred option for a third of people, closely followed by going to the gym.

But team sports such as hockey, cricket, and rugby are no longer as popular with the average adult - less than five per cent of people do any of these activities.

Lubramine is available from most Boots & Superdrug stores priced at £9.99 for 30 capsules. For more info please visit the website: www.lubramine.com

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For more info, case studies or to arrange an interview with Doctor Taher Mahmud please contact:

Amy Franklin – amy.franklin@tiger-white.com tel: 020 7202 8520
Lizzie Andrews – lizzie.andrews@tiger-white.com tel: 0207 202 8520

Lubramine® (containing Celadrin®) is a blend of natural fatty acids that belong to the same family as omega 3 and omega-6 that can help reduce the stress to your joints caused by everyday wear and tear. These fatty acids may also probably help to replace lost fluids in the joints and have been clinically proven to help maintain joint health and probably improve joint flexibility and mobility1,2.

References:

1 Hesslink Jr. RL et al. J Rheumatol. 29, 8:1708-12, 2002

2 Gallaher DD, Gallaher CM, Hesslink Jr. RL FASEB J. 16, 4:A365, 2002