Have YOU suffered a Joe Wicks injury? Osteopath claims home workouts have caused number of people complaining of sprained ankles and twisted knees to TRIPLE during lockdown – due to poor technique and failing to stretch
- Millions across UK have replaced their usual gym routine with a home workout
- Bad habits like failing to stretch properly and poor form caused spike in injuries
- Stephen Makinde of Perfect Balance Clinic says lots of potential pitfalls in DIY workouts and urged people keep up a variety of exercises and include recovery
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Brits replacing the gym with home workout sessions have seen injuries such as sprained ankles and twisted knees to treble, according to a top osteopath.
Millions of people across the country have seen their usual exercise routines disrupted as the Covid-19 crisis has forced leisure centres to close and ended personal trainer sessions.
The answer for many has been online tutorials, including the daily workout led by Joe Wicks, known as ‘the nation’s PE teacher’.
However, bad habits such as failing to stretch properly and executing routines with poor form has caused a spike in injuries, according to Stephen Makinde, clinical director of physiotherapy and sports injury specialists Perfect Balance Clinic.
Brits replacing the gym with home workout sessions have seen injuries such as sprained ankles and twisted knees to treble, according to a top osteopath. Pictured: stock image
He told FEMAIL: ‘The Covid-19 crisis and lockdown means many of us have been unable to carry out our tried and trusted exercise routines for the past two months.
‘Instead, we have been trying new workouts with online tutorials, such as the excellent one run by Joe Wicks.
‘However, we have seen a huge spike in injuries such as sprained ankles, twisted knees and even dislocated shoulders – at least double because people have not been doing their workouts correctly.
‘From not stretching properly beforehand and not using the correct technique to trying too much too soon, there are a lot of potential pitfalls in DIY workouts.
Held daily at 9am, Joe Wicks has been leading one of the most popular online workout classes through his YouTube channel
‘The lesson is that people need to keep up a variety of exercises and make sure they include stretches and recovery work in their training.’
Perfect Balance Clinic, based in London, is a pain relief and rehabilitation specialist with a team of experts working with everyone from sports professionals and film stuntmen to members of the public.
Like many firms, it has adapted to the Covid crisis by moving classes and one-to-one sessions online.
Mr Makinde says he has seen the number of injuries related to home workouts increase by around 200 per cent and is calling for people to do their research before embarking on a specific exercise routine.
Bad habits such as failing to stretch properly and executing routines with poor form has caused a spike in injuries, according to Stephen Makinde, clinical director of physiotherapy and sports injury specialists Perfect Balance Clinic. Pictured: stock image
He added: ‘Many impact or wear-and-tear injuries are avoidable, but they are incredibly common.
‘The key is to make sure you are comfortable with your exercise routine and are able to complete it with the correct form and posture.’
Held daily at 9am, Joe Wicks has been leading one of the most popular online workout classes through his YouTube channel.
He has been donating advertising revenue from his classes to the National Health Service, with more than £200,000 raised so far.
For more information about the Perfect Balance Clinic, visit https://www.perfectbalanceclinic.com/