Top 18 Strangest Gym Injuries You Won’t Believe Happened

Gyms
are
meant
to
be
places
of
self-improvement,
but
they
can
also
become
scenes
of
some
truly
bizarre
and
downright
unfortunate
mishaps.
You
might
think
a
treadmill
or
a
dumbbell
is
harmless
when
used
properly,
but
people
somehow
find
astonishingly
creative
ways
to
hurt
themselves.

You
do
not
need
to
be
clumsy
to
get
into
trouble
at
the
gym—it
seems
like
anything
that
can
go
wrong
will
go
wrong
when
you
least
expect
it.

Imagine
walking
into
a
gym
for
a
simple
workout
and
leaving
with
a
broken
nose,
a
bruised
ego,
or
even
a
herniated
disk.
It
sounds
ridiculous,
but
real
people
have
shared
their
shocking
tales
of
gym
disasters.

Some
fell
off
treadmills,
others
got
their
hair
tangled
in
machines,
and
a
few
even
managed
to
get
smacked
by
resistance
bands.
Prepare
yourself
as
we
dive
into
the
strangest
gym
injuries
that
will
make
you
think
twice
before
your
next
workout.


1.
Falling
onto
a
weight
during
class

Pair of kettlebells placed on a gym floor, with blurred gym equipment in the background

A
fitness
instructor
learned
the
hard
way
about
the
“Fall
Out
Zone”
rule|Image
source:
Artlist.io

A
fitness
instructor
learned
a
painful
lesson
about
not
following
her
own
safety
advice.
While
teaching
a
class,
she
ignored
the
“Fall
Out
Zone”
rule
she
had
just
shared
with
her
students.

She
slipped
and
landed
directly
on
a
weight,
causing
severe
pain
and
a
rainbow
of
bruises.
The
story
does
not
end
there—she
managed
to
finish
the
class
before
walking
off
to
the
restroom,
where
the
pain
finally
overwhelmed
her.

Also,
keep
in
mind
this
type
of
injury
can
also
be
a
subject
for
getting
insurance
compensation.
But
you
might
also
need
a
good
attorney
to
get
the
right
amount.
If
you
live
in
Broomfield,
look
for
a

slip
and
fall
lawyer
in
Broomfield
.


2.
Hair
caught
in
gym
rollers

Machines
in
gyms
can
be
tricky,
but
no
one
expects
them
to
turn
into
hair
traps.
A
woman
using
rollers
in
the
1970s
decided
to
rest
her
head
on
her
arms,
only
to
have
her
shoulder-length
hair
get
sucked
into
the
machine.

The
rollers
began
wrapping
her
hair
tightly,
leaving
her
in
a
panic
as
she
scrambled
to
turn
it
off.
She
avoided
serious
injury,
but
untangling
the
mess
took
forever.


3.
Treadmill
mishap
with
a
broken
nose

A
quick
glance
at
a
TV
screen
ended
in
disaster
for
one
gym-goer.
She
walked
up
to
a
treadmill
to
check
a
sports
score
but
did
not
notice
the
machine
was
still
running
at
full
speed.

The
second
her
foot
touched
the
belt,
she
was
flung
forward,
smashing
her
face
into
the
machine
and
dragging
herself
along
the
floor.
She
left
with
a
broken
nose,
a
fat
lip,
and
several
bruises.


4.
Shin
scrape
after
treadmill
slip

Close-up of hands holding onto a leg, indicating leg discomfort or pain

A
slip
on
the
treadmill
led
to
a
painful
shin
scrape
that
left
a
lasting
scab|Image
source:
Artlist.io

Even
seasoned
gym-goers
are
not
immune
to
accidents.
One
person
lost
footing
on
a
treadmill
and
ended
up
with
a
scraped
shin
that
left
a
several-inch-long
scab
as
a
painful
reminder.

Another
day,
they
slipped
on
the
stairs
leading
to
the
workout
floor,
landing
hard
enough
to
cause
a
massive
bruise
on
their
thigh.


5.
Falling
on
stairs
leading
to
bruises

Gym
stairs
turned
into
a
nightmare
for
someone
rushing
to
their
workout.
The
fall
was
not
just
embarrassing;
it
left
a
large
blue
bruise
covering
an
entire
thigh.

The
worst
part
came
later,
as
curious
onlookers
kept
asking
about
the
injury
for
weeks,
making
the
humiliation
linger.


6.
Chest
press
bar
slamming
into
bicep

Person using a chest press machine in a gym setting, wearing a hoodie

Even
basic
gym
equipment
can
pose
serious
risks
if
not
properly
maintained|YouTube
Screenshot/KevTheTrainer

A
malfunction
on
a
chest
press
machine
turned
a
regular
workout
into
an
unforgettable
ordeal.
The
rubber
hand
grip
slipped,
and
the
bar
crashed
down
on
the
user’s
bicep.

The
pain
was
instant
and
severe.
It
was
a
sharp
reminder
that
even
simple
equipment
can
become
dangerous.


7.
Dislocating
a
knee
cap
during
biceps
curls

A
seemingly
routine
biceps
curl
turned
into
a
months-long
recovery
nightmare.
While
adjusting
footing
mid-rep,
a
gym-goer
twisted
awkwardly
and
dislocated
a
knee
cap.

The
injury
required
nearly
seven
months
of
recovery
and
left
them
painfully
aware
of
how
quickly
things
can
go
wrong
during
a
workout.


8.
Rotator
cuff
injury
from
dumbbell
presses

A
small
bench
and
a
heavy
dumbbell
proved
to
be
a
disastrous
combination.
On
the
last
rep
of
a
dumbbell
press
set,
a
man
lost
balance
and
failed
to
drop
the
weight
in
time.

His

shoulder
hyper-abducted
,
and
the
sound
from
his
rotator
cuff
resembled
a
ripping
phone
book.
The
damage
still
lingers,
years
later.


9.
Scraping
an
arm
after
treadmill
fall

A
moment
of
carelessness
turned
a
treadmill
session
into
an
embarrassing
tumble.
One
person
stepped
onto
the
side
of
a
treadmill
and
accidentally
placed
a
foot
on
the
moving
belt.

The
fall
scraped
their
arm
and
bruised
their
pride.
Although
no
major
injuries
occurred,
the
incident
served
as
a
cautionary
tale
about
staying
focused.


10.
Stepping
on
a
running
treadmill
unknowingly

Stepping
onto
an
empty
treadmill
seems
harmless—until
you
realize
it
is
already
running.
A
gym-goer
found
out
the
hard
way,
falling
hard
and
earning
multiple
bruises,
burns,
and
a
black-and-blue
pinky.

The
lesson
learned?
Always
check
if
a
treadmill
is
running
before
stepping
on
it.


11.
Misjudged
steps
on
stairmaster
leading
to
a
fractured
tibia

Even
experienced
gym
enthusiasts
make
mistakes.
A
woman
chatting
with
someone
on
the
machine
next
to
her
misjudged
the
steps
while
trying
to
dismount
a
stairmaster.

She
fell
hard,
initially
believing
it
was
just
a
sprain,
but
an
x-ray
later
revealed

a
fractured
tibia
.


12.
Treadmill
fall
causing
bruises
and
abrasions

Multitasking
on
a
treadmill
led
to
a
painful
mishap.
While
silencing
a
phone,
a
gym-goer
accidentally
stepped
onto
a
running
treadmill.
The
result
was
a
cascade
of
injuries,
including
bruised
knees,
wrists,
and
shins.

The
experience
turned
into
a
painful
reminder
to
avoid
distractions
during
workouts.


13.
Falling
off
a
treadmill
while
reaching
for
a
water
bottle
cap

A
moment
of
consideration
for
others
backfired
when
someone
tried
to
grab
a
fallen
water
bottle
cap
to
prevent
it
from
tripping
someone
else.

The
effort
caused
them
to
lose
balance
and
fall
off
the
treadmill,
resulting
in
a
broken
toe.
Sometimes,
even
good
intentions
come
with
a
painful
price.


14.
Bowflex
resistance
bar
injury
to
the
head

Person gripping a Bowflex resistance bar indoors during a workout

Proper
form
and
awareness
are
key
when
using
resistance
equipment
to
avoid
accidents|YouTube
Screenshot/Product
Reviews

DIY
on
the
House

Resistance
bars
are
meant
to
help
build
strength,
not
cause
injuries.
One
gym-goer
learned
this
the
hard
way
when
they
accidentally
hit
themselves
in
the
head
with
a

Bowflex
bar
.
The
unexpected
self-inflicted
blow
left
them
shaken
and
wary
of
using
the
equipment
again.


15.
Accidental
head
slap
with
headphones
on
a
treadmill

A
treadmill
session
turned
bizarre
when
someone
attempted
to
put
on
headphones
while
climbing
a
hill.

They
accidentally
slapped
themselves
in
the
head
during
the
process,
adding
an
embarrassing
twist
to
their
workout.
The
incident
was
more
humiliating
than
harmful,
but
it
became
a
lesson
in
focus.


16.
Broken
wrist
caused
by
an
elliptical
machine

Woman using an elliptical trainer in a modern gym environment

Stay
focused
and
avoid
twisting
motions
while
using
gym
equipment
to
prevent
unexpected
injuries|Image
source:
Artlist.io

An
elliptical
machine
turned
dangerous
when
someone
lost
focus
while
gripping
its
stationary
handles.
A
sudden
twist
of
the
fingers
caused
a
crack
and
intense
pain,
which
later
turned
out
to
be

a
broken
wrist
.
The
injury
was
so
unusual
that
even
the
machine’s
manufacturer
expressed
disbelief.


17.
Resistance
band
snapping
around
the
neck

A
workout
involving
resistance
bands
took
a
shocking
turn
when
one
snapped
loose
and
whipped
around
the
user’s
neck.
The
incident
left
them
in
disbelief
and
shame,
especially
since
two
nearby
gym-goers
burst
into
laughter.

The
embarrassment
was
enough
to
make
them
quit
the
gym
entirely
and
switch
to
home
workouts.


18.
Herniated
disk
from
treadmill
cardio
workout

A

herniated
disk

developed
after
one
man
overexerted
himself
on
a
treadmill,
following
advice
to
improve
his
heart
health.
The
cardio
routine
led
to
numbness
in
his
back
and
leg,
eventually
requiring
medical
attention.

Ironically,
the
injury
occurred
while
he
was
in
the
best
shape
of
his
life,
making
it
a
frustrating
and
painful
setback.


FAQs

What
are
the
most
common
causes
of
gym
injuries?

Most
gym
injuries
happen
due
to
poor
technique,
lack
of
focus,
faulty
equipment,
or
attempting
exercises
beyond
physical
capacity.
Distractions
and
rushing
can
also
lead
to
accidents.

Are
resistance
bands
safe
to
use?

Resistance
bands
are
generally
safe,
but
they
can
snap
if
worn
out
or
improperly
secured.
Regularly
inspect
bands
for
tears,
anchor
them
securely,
and
avoid
stretching
them
beyond
their
limit.

What
should
I
do
if
I
injure
myself
at
the
gym?


Stop
the
activity
immediately
and
assess
the
injury
.
For
minor
issues,
rest,
ice,
and
elevation
might
help.
Seek
medical
attention
for
severe
pain,
swelling,
or
inability
to
move
the
affected
area.

How
can
I
prevent
embarrassing
falls
at
the
gym?

Wear
proper
footwear
with
good
grip,
avoid
distractions,
and
pay
attention
to
your
surroundings.
Take
extra
care
on
staircases
and
when
using
machines
with
moving
parts.


Last
Words

Accidents
can
happen
to
anyone,
no
matter
how
experienced
or
careful
they
are
at
the
gym.
The
stories
shared
here
are
not
just
bizarre—they
are
reminders
that
even
the
most
routine
workouts
can
take
unexpected
turns.

Staying
mindful,
using
proper
form,
and
checking
equipment
might
feel
like
small
steps,
but
they
can
make
a
big
difference
in
preventing
injuries.