title: Rate of injury and subjective benefits of gravitational wellness weightlifting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A preliminary study using the "gravitational wellness" weightlifting technique demonstrated this to be a unique technique for loading the musculoskeletal system with extremely high loads over short arcs. This leads to rapid weekly strength gains using 30-minute weekly training sessions. This study was designed to further assess the benefit-risk ratio of the gravitational wellness weightlifting technique.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This descriptive/retrospective study examined musculoskeletal and well-being outcomes as well as injuries reported by consecutive participants at one gravitational wellness gym.
  
  
  METHODS
  All adults presenting for training at the Atlanta, Georgia, gravitational wellness system facility over a 6-month period were invited to participate. Data were obtained by telephone interview concerning the presenting complaint/objective of training, subjective outcome, weights lifted, and injuries incurred during training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 77 participants contacted via telephone, 92% agreed to participate (male, n=40; female, n=31). The participants ranged in age from 18 years to 69 years, with a mean age of 48.6 years. Of these, 42 (59%) presented to the gym with the objective of improving a defined musculoskeletal issue. The modal of these was chronic low-back pain. The subjects realized improvement on a 5-point Likert scale of 4.2/5 for their presenting complaint, and improved by 4.27/5 in their overall subjective health. There were no injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study of consecutive participants at a gravitational wellness gym found that by lifting large weights over short arcs 3 0 minutes per week, participants significantly increased their strength, reduced their musculoskeletal pain, improve their subjective well-being, and reported a low rate of injury.
authors.affiliation: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Emory University, GA, USA.
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Emory University, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Adawi
authors.affiliation: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Emory University, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alexandroni
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Atsu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dorvlo
authors.affiliation: Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Burke
keywords: descriptive study; gravitational wellness system; rate of injuries; weight training