Injury prevalence and associated costs among participants of an employee fitness program

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 <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.