Fitness fanatic, 27, broke her spine lifting weights but didn’t realise until she woke up the next morning unable to move – and why her terrifying injury should be a warning to all gym-goers
- Josie Kuntze broke her back in 2018 lifting weights at the gym
- She woke up the next morning and couldn’t move
- What followed was a grueling road to learn how to walk again
A young woman has told of the terrifying moment she broke her spine while lifting weights at the gym and had no idea until she woke up the following morning unable to move a muscle.
Josie Kuntze, from Sydney, was preparing for a World Beauty Fitness and Fashion (WBFF) competition in early 2018 and worked at the gym at the time.
During a leg training session she was deadlifting and squatting 120kg. Everything seemed fine until the following morning.
‘I went home to bed, woke up and couldn’t move. The pain was unbearable,’ Josie, now 27, told FEMAIL.
‘My boyfriend at the time had to carry me into the car and take me straight to the hospital.’
Josie spent four months in hospital followed by two months of recovery at home. To this day her back still isn’t the same – and physios say it likely never will be.
Josie Kuntze was preparing for a World Beauty Fitness and Fashion (WBFF) competition in 2018 and also worked at the gym prior to breaking her back in a freak accident (pictured in 2018)
Now 27, the YouTuber recalled being in agonising pain the morning after training legs and couldn’t work. Her boyfriend at the time had to carry her to the car and into hospital
She visited the emergency room twice, waited a gruelling seven hours each time, only to be sent home with Panadol.
‘I was crying, screaming and couldn’t walk on my own. I have no idea why doctors didn’t do any scans,’ Josie said.
Her mum finally said ‘enough is enough’ and took her to another hospital where physicians conducted MRI and CT scans.
It was finally determined Josie’s back was broken in several different spots – she had bulging and herniated disks as well as a fractured spine.
‘I was in that hospital for months. Couldn’t shower on my own, couldn’t brush my own hair.. it was truly a difficult time for me,’ she said.
‘Doctors basically said it’s a matter of the bone healing over time – because obviously my whole back couldn’t be put in a cast.’
She visited the emergency room twice only to be sent home with Panadol each time and claims doctors didn’t conduct any scans. Her mum finally said ‘enough is enough’ and took her to another hospital where physicians determined her back was broken
She couldn’t walk, couldn’t go to the bathroom or sit up without assistance, which impacted both her physical and mental health.
‘I was young, in my 20s, and loved exercising, so it was really difficult being still and laying in a hospital bed for so long,’ Josie said.
From a young age she had always wanted to travel, but the injury put her plans on hold.
Through rehabilitation and working with chiropractors and physios for six months, she slowly learnt how to walk again.
There was even one point where Josie wasn’t sure if she would ever walk again.
‘I had to learn how to take my first steps again, I felt like I was 60,’ Josie said.
‘When I eventually got back on my feet, my physio told me “This isn’t something that can be fixed, it can only be managed”.
‘To be honest hearing those words honestly made me feel better, because I had worried for so long what the outcome would be.’
It was finally determined Josie’s back was broken in several different spots – she had bulging and herniated disks as well as a fractured spine. ‘I was in that hospital for months,’ she said
Can lifting heavy weights ruin your back?
Back injuries that occur with exercise include lumbar (lower back) strain, pulled muscles, neck sprains and rarely, stress fractures.
The most common culprits are lifting weights that are too heavy and losing form.
Despite the potential shot to pride or ego, when it comes to lifting weights in the gym, it’s imperative that you start with lighter weight and gradually move up as you gain muscle strength.
It is also imperative that you not sacrifice form in order to push a larger load.
While some exercise-induced injuries occur with a sudden wrong or awkward move, many are caused by repetitive motion over time, like tennis elbow.
Performing the same motion repeatedly affects one muscle group, leading to wear and tear and gradual inflammation.
Repetitive motion can also cause fractures or bruising of the tissue that supports the spine. This kind of injury typically occurs in wrestling, tennis, rowing, diving, dancing, volleyball, and gymnastics.
Deadlifting is one of the most common culprits of lifting-induced low back injuries
Source: njbrainspine.com & Men’s Health
While recovering as much as possible, Josie experienced feelings of anger, sadness and regret.
‘For a long time I asked myself what made me go to the gym that day and lift such a heavy weight, or why I was prescribed the gym plan,’ she said.
‘Maybe I should’ve taken the day off or not pushed myself so hard… then while in hospital I was constantly thinking ‘why me?’.. it was a really hard, dark time.’
Today it’s the small things she struggles to do – from touching her toes to making the bed and walking up stairs.
‘I can’t do what I was once capable of; I can only walk around 8,000 steps a day before my back starts to hurt, I can’t vacuum or mop floors, or even bend down to play with the dog,’ she said.
‘I can’t sit for long periods without pain, which makes flights over four hours really challenging.’
Throughout her life Josie was not only a gym junkie but also into taekwondo – but can no longer lift heavy weights or train martial arts.
‘I spent around two years paying out of pocket since I didn’t have private health almost 50 per cent of my pay check to physios, chiros, and acupunctures,’ she said.
Through rehabilitation and by working with chiropractors and physios for six months, she slowly learnt how to walk again
She’s now able to travel and create videos for social media. Last year she won YouTube Australia and New Zealand Creator On The Rise twice, which was a huge milestone
Despite the life-changing ordeal, Josie’s relationship with fitness has ‘completely changed’.
‘I was so full on with it before, but now going to the gym can be painful,’ she said.
‘I had to learn to train completely differently and focus on other things besides just heavy weight and it makes it much harder to keep in shape since my injury, but I’m happy to be able to walk.’
She’s also ticked more destinations off her list including south east Asia, Thailand and the US.
During her travels she started making videos for both YouTube and TikTok and is now a full time content creator with a combined following of more than half a million people.
Last year she won YouTube Australia and New Zealand Creator On The Rise twice, which was a huge milestone.
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