Jacinta’s story: Bouncing back from a serious gym injury

When Jacinta O’Donohue reached for the pull-up bar one morning, the last thing she expected was to end up on the floor, unable to move.

But that’s exactly what happened to her last November.

The Whitianga mother-of-eight fell from a bar at the gym, sustaining a severe concussion and injury to her neck.

Straight after the accident, Jacinta realised she couldn’t feel the sensation in one of her legs.

“I remember jumping for the bar and the next thing I was on the ground and crying out for help,” she says.

Fortunately, there was someone else at the gym at the time who was able to come to her aid.

An ambulance was called, followed by the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

Jacinta was transferred to Auckland Hospital where she spent the next two days.

She was relieved to find out she had no broken bones. But she still faced a long road to recovery.

‘I thought I’d broken my neck’

Her fall was so bad that Jacinta was knocked unconscious.

“There was a bench behind me and I must’ve knocked myself out. There’s a little fragment of time I can’t remember,” she says.

“I was using a band to assist me in my pull-ups when I fell, my feet got twisted in the band, and so my neck took the full impact of the fall.

“I just remember having heaps of pain through my neck and it radiating all down my body.”

At first, Jacinta feared she’d broken her neck.

“I remember lying there thinking, ‘Oh my god, I’m never going to walk again.’ I've got regenerative osteoporosis, so my bones do break quite easily.”

Jacinta remembers going in and out of consciousness, as she was put into the helicopter and airlifted to hospital.

“The staff from the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter were amazing,” she says.

“I remember being in the hangar and talking to the helicopter guys and just feeling like they had me.”

The impact of injury on whānau

The concussion Jacinta suffered from the fall took five months to recover from.

She’d suffered several concussions in the past, which she believes contributed to the time it took for her to recover.

“I did a lot of not remembering where I was – it was scary,” she says.

“It was when I started to speak to them in the hospital that I could see the concern on their faces. They were trying to get me to do memory things, and I just couldn't remember.”

But trying to regain her memory wasn’t the scariest part for the 44-year-old.

As a single mum-of-eight, Jacinta’s primary concern was her children.

“The hardest part was the impact it would have on them,” she says.

“I’m lucky my youngest is now 14 and my oldest is 28, so I’ve got a whole team behind me. But as the matriarch – as I like to call myself – an injury impacts everything. You just have to try and work out the best way.”

ACC lends a helping hand

Jacinta says the support of ACC was fundamental to her recovery.

“It took a long time to get better. The concussion really took a toll on me and the recovery process was longer than if I’d broken a bone,” she says.

“The concussion team did brain gym with me to help with my memory. I did cognitive therapy and I also had an occupational therapist who did a lot of balance work with me.”

Jacinta also continues to access counselling services through ACC.  

“I’ve been so well supported, the communication between all of the teams that have worked with me has just been great.”

Hit the gym with a plan

ACC Injury Prevention Leader James Whitaker says signing up for the gym is at the top of the New Year’s resolution list for many – but you need to have a plan.

“The gym is a great way to build your strength and balance, thus reducing your risk of falls and other injuries,” James says.

“But make sure you take a moment to consider the risks of injury before trying to record a new personal best on the bench press or squat rack.”

In 2024, ACC accepted 59,422 gym-related injuries at a cost of $60.8 million to help people recover.

“Have a hmmm before you get stuck in,” James says.

“If you push yourself too hard and too fast without professional advice from a registered trainer, you could end up with an injury.”

‘The gym is my happy place’

Just over a year on from her gym accident, Jacinta is now back enjoying CrossFit with her family.

“It’s my happy place,” she says.

“The community is really encouraging, everybody is trying to reach different goals and celebrating where we’ve come from.

“I love the push to go as hard as you can and reach that next level. It’s a mental game and my release from all the other stuff I have going on.”

Jacinta has some advice for those looking to hit the gym in the New Year.

“Don’t over-do it,” she says.

“I’d already done a gym class the day of my accident and I was tired before I even started my pull-ups.

“Take things slowly if you need to. Don’t try and go in there all guns blazing because you’ll never get anywhere. You’ve got to pace yourself and continue to show up.”

She says it’s equally as important to be kind to yourself.

“I think we get too hard on ourselves about life and what we can and can't achieve. Remember to celebrate all the small achievements as well,” she says.

“I realise I’m so lucky to still be here and still be able to do what I love doing. I’m very grateful.”

Tips for reducing gym injuries

Warm up: A good warm up helps prevent injury and your recovery from injury.

Ease into it: It can be tempting to jump right into intense training but going too hard, too soon might increase your risk of injury. It’s better to start off gradually and go at your own pace.

Get advice from a registered personal trainer: They can help you learn the right skills and techniques. You can find one near you on the website for REPS, the registration body for Exercise Professionals and Facilities.

Be realistic: Listen to your body. Remember there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach that works for everyone.

Have recovery days: Make sure you give your body time to recover after your workout by taking rest days. If you do get injured, make sure you take time to recover and don’t rush back into training.