The cost of sporting Britain

It's been a bumper year for sport but Brits are being urged to exercise with caution after new research found that over a quarter of Brits (26 per cent) have caused more than £200 worth of accidental damage to their homes.

According to the study by esure home insurance, more than half of Brits (62 per cent) choose to work-out from the comfort of their own home, making living rooms a potential minefield for personal injury and accidental damage.  In the last six months alone, almost one in four enthusiatic exercisers (24 per cent) have caused damage to their home while nearly a fifth (19 per cent) have pulled a muscle or broken a bone.

Topping the list of accidents, a quarter of those polled (25 per cent) have slipped on flooring or tripped over rugs, while 22 per cent have crashed into furniture.  A further fifth (20 per cent) have tripped over children or pets whilst exercising in the home.

Proving that keeping fit can be costly, one in ten Brits (11 per cent) have accidentally crashed into their TV, smashed light fixtures or caused irreparable damage to flooring.  25 to 34 year olds are the most costly causing £181 worth of damage compared to just £94 for those over 50 years old.

According to the findings, 68 per cent of women choose to workout at home compared to just 55 per cent of men.  However, men are twice as accident prone with 38 per cent having caused damage to their homes or suffered an injury in the last six months compared to just 19 per cent of women.

London is the most hazardous region with almost three-quarters (73 per cent) causing themselves an injury or damage to their homes whilst exercising.  Wales is the most accident prone region for indoor workouts causing on average £236 worth of damage in the last six months alone.

The top ten regions with most costly indoor work-out damage:

1. Wales (£235)
2. East Midlands (£193)
3. London (£191)
4. North East (£184)
5. South East (£146)
6. Yorkshire and Humberside (£141)
7. South West (£136)
8. Scotland (£128)
9. North West (£98)
10. East (£86)

Following Britain's impressive medal haul, 41 per cent of the respondents questioned have been inspired to be more active while 13 per cent have taken up a new sport.  11 per cent have spent over £50 on sports gear and one in ten (10 per cent) have spent over £150 on indoor sports equipment in the last six months.

Nikki Sellers, Head of Home Underwriting at esure, explains: "After an unforgettable summer of sport, it's seems Brits have been truly inspired to take more of an interest in exercise and keeping themselves fit and healthy.

"Although it's great to see the nation becoming more active, it is also important that people who choose to exercise indoors ensure they clear adequate space in their homes to avoid incidents and take sensible precautions to check their new equipment and sports gear is covered in their contents insurance."

To help the nation get active in the home without worrying about costly damage, esure has put together some top tips for exercising safely in the home:

Wear protective footwear when using dumbbells and weights
Ensure the allocated exercise space is completely clear of furniture
Make sure the exercise space is safe - remove any slippery rugs and footstools
Make sure children and pets are in an alternative room before starting a workout
Stand well back from the TV as over-enthusiastic movements can lead to collisions with the screen