The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is recalling 78,000 Bowflex gyms under the brand name Bowflex Ultimate 2 Home Gyms.

Bowflex’s manufacturer, Nautilus Inc. of Vancouver, Wash., is also voluntarily recalling the exercise machine.

The home gym's horizontal seat rail is designed to be latched in a vertical position for storage. If the seat rail is not manually latched, it can fall unexpectedly on the user or a bystander, posing a risk of serious injury.

Nautilus has received 18 reports of injuries caused by unlatched seat rails that have fallen, resulting in head and shoulder lacerations, some requiring stitches or staples.

Consumers may continue to use their home gyms for exercising, but should not place the seat rail in the vertical (storage) position until the repair is performed. Registered owners are being sent a free repair kit. Owners who have not received a repair kit by March 10, 2009 should contact the firm.

Recall noricehttp://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09138.html