Exercise Equipment
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Sports Protective Equipment & Gear · CPSC Code 3277
Stable over 5 years
The verdict
Exercise Equipment carry a danger score of 45/100 (moderate risk), driven by roughly 59,940 ER-treated injuries a year that are roughly flat over the last five years.
- 45/100
- danger score (moderate risk)
- 59,940
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 8.4%
- end in hospital admission
- 5-14
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 3277 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 45/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for exercise equipment - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume59,940 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)8.4%
- Fatality rate0.13%
- 5-year trend-8%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Exercise Equipment (CPSC product code 3277, in the Sports Protective Equipment & Gear category) generate an estimated 59,940 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 1.2M ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 45/100 for this category (moderate risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are roughly flat over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2024 (80,348 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2005 (40,583 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for exercise equipment is other to the upper trunk, accounting for approximately 113,757 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by internal injury to the head (65,535 cases). The 5-14 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 222,320 cases over the NEISS window, and females appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 8.4% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer, and a small fraction (0.13%) result in fatality.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 445 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how exercise equipment fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 57,080 | 36,020 | |
| 5-14 | 108,087 | 114,205 | |
| 15-24 | 68,684 | 73,809 | |
| 25-34 | 61,371 | 70,138 | |
| 35-44 | 56,706 | 74,600 | |
| 45-54 | 55,599 | 75,147 | |
| 55-64 | 53,980 | 69,716 | |
| 65-74 | 53,218 | 59,843 | |
| 75+ | 55,899 | 54,533 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Ankle | Strain, Sprain | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| All Parts Body | Other | |
| Knee | Other | |
| Knee | Strain, Sprain | |
| Head | Laceration | |
| Foot | Strain, Sprain | |
| Lower Leg | Other | |
| Lower Leg | Laceration | |
| Foot | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Face | Contusions, Abr. |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
67YOM HX TACHYCARDIA INDUCED CM EF 23%(NOW RECOVERED)PRESENT TO ED C/F ABNORMAL HR.TODAY PT WAS CYCLING ON A STATIONARY BIKE WHICH HE DOES 30MINS MOT DAYS,HIS *** WATCH ALERTED HIM HR=180.HE DIDNT FEEL ANY DIFFERENT DURING EPISODE,AFTER SLOWING TO A STOP HR CONTINUED TO 180'SDX:A-FIB UNSPECIFIED
5YOM WAS PLAYING ON A TREADMILL AND FELL HURTING HIS ELBOW. DX: ELBOW CONTUSION
83 YOM C/O KNEE LACERATION S/P TRIPPED OVER HIS PLASTIC STAIR-STEPPER EXERCISE EQUIPMENT AT HOME. DX: KNEE LACERATION
67YOF BROUGHT IN BY EMS FROM URGENT CARE FROM A FALL THAT HAPPENED 6 DAYS AGO. PER EMS PATIENT WAS ON TREADMILL 6 DAYS AGO WHEN SHOE LACE GOT CAUGHT IN TREADMILL AND FACE PLANTED. DX:FALL; CLOSED FRACTURE OF LEFT ORBITAL FLOOR.
43YOM PATIENT STATES THAT HE WAS USING A RESISTANCE BAND TO WORK OUT WHEN SNAPPED BACK AND HIT HIM IN THE HEAD, LACERATION TO THE BACK OF THE SCALP DX: LACERATION OF SCALP
7YOM GOT HIS LEFT FOREARM STUCK UNDER THE BELT OF A TREADMILL DX AVULSION TO FOREARM
22YOF C/O CHEST PAIN S/P PT WAS AT THE GYM LAST NIGHT AND WAS USING THE *** WHEN SHE NOTICED SHE FELT DIZZY AND HAD CHEST PAIN. DX: CHEST PAIN
29 YOM. LEG PAIN AFTER TAKING A SPIN CLASS. DX: LWOT
64 YOF. SHOULDER PAIN AFTER FALL WHILE RUNNING ON THE TREADMILL THIS MORNING. DX: ANTERIOR SHOULDER DISLCOCATION
9YOM WITH FALL AT SCHOOL IN GYM CLASS ONTO MAT. NO INJ NOTED ON EXAM DX: FALL
19MOF WITH BURNS TO HAND FROM TOUCHING MOVING TREADMILL DX: BURN TO HAND
37YOM WAS USING A WORKOUT MACHINE WHEN HE GOT HIS LEFT MIDDLE FINGER CAUGHT IN THE MACHINE DX: FRACTURED FINGER
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
Seated leg curl machine
I returned from a week of vacation (the unit had been sitting idle for about 8 days), and decided to elliptical for a quick workout. I turned the unit on, and the welcome screen flashed on, and then flashed off. I hit the 'resume' button, hoping that it had just frozen out, and it flashed again, but quickly turned blank. At that point, I thought I smelled an electrical fire, and inspected the base of the unit, by the engine & power cord. I didn't notice any issues, and then looked back to the top of the unit. At this point, visible smoke was coming out of the middle console of the unit (below the screen, in between the stationary handle bars). I quickly unplugged the unit, and the smoke persisted for about a minute. At this point, it still had not stopped, so I squirted some water into the holes where the smoke was emanating from. This caused the smoke to stop, and then I stayed with the unplugged unit for the next hour to ensure that it didn't start smoking again.
While using an 11 month old Sole Treadmill model #63, the unit froze, began smoking and flames came out of motor enclosure. Wiring was on fire. I had to quickly unplug and throw a bucket of water at the flames. I was on a concrete floor. The results on a carpeted floor could have been catastrophic. This is a dangerous product. I reported incident to Sole immediately. They seem to care little if at all.
Epic T60 Treadmill: Lower treadmill portion folds up when not in use. It is held in place by one manually retractable peg. There is no hydraulic or spring mechanism to slow descent of lower treadmill portion when lowering it for use. (My other treadmill has such a safety mechanism) My six year old child pulled peg while 3 year old stood in the path of the treadmill descent. Luckily I stopped my 6 year old just in time or my 3 year old easily could have been killed. It can also accidentally fall on the user's foot, causing broken bones. Very obviously dangerous
On August 22, 2025 I was using a TRX suspension training system at [REDACTED] located in [REDACTED], Texas. The TRX hook/cable connection failed unexpectedly during normal use. I was performing a pull up exercise when the hook snapped, causing me to fall backwards onto the floor. The failure was sudden and not due to misuse. The fall resulted in a back injury diagnosed as a bulging disc, confirmed by a medical provider. I am currently undergoing physical therapy. I have the video footage of the incident that shows the TRX equipment failing and the resulting fall. Due to the system not allowing me to upload the video I can provide the footage upon request This incident raises serious safety concerns about the durability and reliability of TRX equipment. If the equipment can fail during normal, intended use, it poses a significant risk of injury to other users.
Subject: Safety Complaint Risk of Electrocution from Improperly Installed Peloton Treadmill Product: Peloton Tread (Purchased January 13, 2022 $3,290.60) Location: [REDACTED] Issue Date: First technician visit February 27, 2025 Escalation Date: Second technician visit September 2025 Description of Hazard: I am reporting a serious safety issue involving a Peloton treadmill that was improperly installed in my home, resulting in repeated electric shocks and a confirmed risk of electrocution. The treadmill was purchased on January 13, 2022, and installed by Peloton. On February 27, 2025, I requested a service visit due to concerns about the equipment. The first technician found that several bolts were missing but did not complete the repair and failed to warn me to stop using the machine. Months later, I began experiencing electric shocks while using the treadmill, especially around the handrail. A second technician visited in September 2025 and found: - Loose and missing bolts - Mispositioned internal wiring - Exposed handrail bolts with no protective covers - Improperly installed monitor cables He immediately disconnected the machine and warned me that I was at risk of electrocution due to the amount of electricity the treadmill uses to operate. I have photographic evidence of the technicians findings. Despite repeated communication with Peloton, they have refused to remove the treadmill or issue a refund. Their only offer has been a handrail replacement and a few months of free membership, which does not address the underlying safety hazard or the negligent installation. I also paid for extended warranty coverage, which they have failed to honor. The treadmill remains in my home, non-functional and occupying space. I am extremely concerned about the safety risks this product posesnot only to me but to other consumers who may be exposed to similar dangers. Requested Action: I respectfully request that the CPSC investi
Treadmill abruptly stops without warning. It occurs intermittently and I almost slammed my face into the machine. The manufacturers representative completed the installation. There have been various issues with the treadmill since installation. Ive contacted the manufacturer multiple times and they are not willing to address the issue.
Using exercise resistance bands from GNC, one band broke under normal usage, snapped back and resulted in a near miss.
Showing 8 of 445 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to exercise equipment on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are exercise equipment?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, exercise equipment have a danger score of 45/100 (moderate risk). An estimated 59,940 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from exercise equipment?
The most common injury is other to the upper trunk, accounting for approximately 113,757 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from exercise equipment increasing or decreasing?
Stable over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for exercise equipment injuries?
The 5-14 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 222,320 cases recorded over 20 years. Females are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by exercise equipment?
Of all ER visits involving exercise equipment, approximately 8.4% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (91.6%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with exercise equipment?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Sports Protective Equipment & Gear
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 45/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 5-14 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
