Some seemingly harmless home exercise equipment can be downright dangerous.

Those dumbbells and fitness balls can really help keep you in shape – or leave you injured and moaning in pain...  

The American College of Sports Medicine’s “Complete Guide to Fitness and Health,” has a few warnings about some of the most common home exercise equipment:

• Hand weights, barbells or dumbbells: Always wear gloves when using these. Weights can easily slip out of sweaty hands. You’ll need shoes too – to protect your feet in case of a drop.

• Weight bench: It’s really important to check and tighten any nuts and bolts regularly. An unstable weight bench can lead to disaster.

• Elastic resistance bands: Check those carefully for wear. If it snaps – it can result in serious face or eye injuries. Never anchor those to a lightweight piece of furniture or a doorknob.

• Balance boards: Use these near a bar or stable object that you can grab if you lose your balance. Make sure there are no sharp objects or edges nearby.

• Inflatable fitness balls: They’ve been known to explode – and if you’re sitting or lying on it you could wind up with a back, neck or head injury. Pay a little more for a ball labelled “burst-resistant.” Those deflate slowly if punctured.