title: Injury prevalence and associated costs among participants of an employee fitness program.
abstract: The prevalence, cost, and type of injury among participants of an employee fitness program and nonexercising co-workers were studied over a 2-year period from 1984 to 1985. The purpose of the study was to determine whether participants of an employee fitness program (n = 2,871) experienced a greater risk of injury and resultant higher costs than nonparticipants (n = 3,233). Overall, there were no significant differences in the rate or cost of injuries among the various participation levels (from 0 to 3 or more times per week). However, the data indicated that individuals who occasionally participated in the fitness program experienced a greater, but nonsignificant, risk of injury (6.3 per 100 persons who exercised less than 1 session per week, and 7.7 per 100 persons who exercised 1-2 sessions per week) than nonparticipants (5.7 per 100 persons). Injury prevalence was lower among individuals who exercised 3 or more sessions per week (5.4 per 100 persons) as was the resultant per capita cost of injuries ($32 vs $42 for nonparticipants). We conclude the impact of exercise at an onsite health and fitness facility on overall injury rates and costs among employees is negligible.
authors.affiliation: Tenneco, Inc., Health, Environmental Medicine, and Safety, Houston, Texas 77252.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bernacki
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Baun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012307:Risk Factors; D013781:Texas