With the cost of living continuing to rise, many women have swapped going to expensive gyms for working out at home instead, but this trend has lead to an increase in accidental damage and personal injuries according to research carried out by Shelia’s Wheels Home Insurance.

The survey revealed 18 per cent of women who exercise at home had suffered some kind of accident over the last year. The most common form of mishap was bumping into furniture or pulling a muscle.

Others questioned admitted to tripping over a pet or banging their head on equipment.

Spokeswoman at Sheila’s Wheels, Jacky brown said, “As summer holidays fast approach, the pressure is on for women to have a bikini fit body. However, our research shows that many are shying away from gyms and are increasingly keen to exercise at home, to save time and in the current economic climate, to save money. Sheila’s Wheels urges women to make sure they have adequate cover against accidental damage in their home before embarking on any indoor fitness regime.”