Injuries arising from aerobic fitness classes.

Aerobic fitness classes are a popular form of exercise for many people. A questionnaire survey of 410 participants and a clinical review of 100 patients presenting for treatment, showed that 67.3% of respondents had significant pain resulting from the classes, but only 21% stopped exercising because of it. The majority of injuries are to the lower extremities, including tibial stress syndrome and patellofemoral pain. This study suggests that most of these injuries are preventable, especially by advice on proper footwear, pace of activity, how many classes to attend and how frequently to increase activity.