Acute management of exercise treadmill-associated injuries in children

Abstract

Background: Exercise treadmills have grown in popularity in the past few years. The addition of this type of equipment in the home offers opportunity for injury, particularly in children.

Methods: Patients were identified both prospectively and retrospectively by review of the trauma registry and medical records. Patient data, medical treatment, and hospital costs were obtained from medical records. Functional outcome was assessed by the modified Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire.

Results: Nine patients were observed with 14 injuries. The average age was 3.4 years, with average clinical follow-up of 9.1 weeks. The primary injury was friction burn (eight of nine), with one patient sustaining a thumb distal tuft fracture. Two patients required operations and all patients had a good functional outcome (124.5 of 125 on the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire).

Conclusion: Treadmill-associated injuries primarily involve hand injury in children. These injuries usually do not require surgical intervention and are preventable. Prevention modalities include additional manufacture safety features, warning labels, and parental education.