Public Safety Concerns As Gym Machine Keeps Seriously Injuring People, Leaving Many Wheelchair-Bound

A gym machine, often marketed as a safer, beginner-friendly alternative to traditional weightlifting, has been at the center of accidents with devastating consequences, including spinal fractures and paralysis.

The Smith machine is a familiar sight in gyms, helping people tackle squats, presses, and other exercises with a barbell that glides along a fixed track. Its guided movement can make lifting feel less intimidating, but the added sense of security doesn’t mean users are immune to serious, potentially life-changing injuries.

People have seen their lives completely changed by such accidents, like Sharla Peterson, a bodybuilding competitor left paralyzed from the waist down after suffering a spinal fracture during a Smith machine squat in 2023, and Sophie Butler, a British fitness influencer who suffered a similar fate in 2017. 

Personal trainer Alex Folacci, who suffered a serious back injury while weightlifting himself, spoke to Bored Panda about what gym-goers need to understand about the machine and how to minimize the risks.