12 ms·

My hearing was ACTUALLY permanently damaged when a sticky iron weight fell on a leg press machine at a 24-hour fitness about 5 years ago. The weights looked li

My hearing was ACTUALLY permanently damaged when a sticky iron weight fell on a leg press machine at a 24-hour fitness about 5 years ago. The weights looked like these: http://www.presentationzen.com/.a/6a00d83451b64669e201156eb409b4970c-450wi http://www.presentationzen.com/.a/6a00d83451b64669e201156eb4... One extra weight slab was "stuck" to the group that was supposed to get lifted. It was stuck because the weights at the gym were grimy from many years of use without being cleaned. The extra slab, when it reached the top, finally detached and slid down maybe 20-30 inches, and made a sound that everyone in the gym heard, but right next to my ear. A few people even made angry faces at me for being a noisy lifter. Ever since then, to this day, I have had tinnitus in that ear, and many sounds come in like "static", for lack of a better explanation. All I can say is be careful with those weights if they get sticky, and if they are near your ear...

Exuma 9y ago
Jesus, this entire post is terrifying.
jclos 9y ago
I already thought the leg press machine was a death trap, but you managed to give me another reason to dislike it. I think I'll stick to squatting.
- komali2 9y ago
  Ever since that video where the girl's legs go chicken style so very slowly while she screams, I've been scared as shit to get on that thing.
  - rubicon33 9y ago
    uhhh... what?
    - felipemnoa 9y ago
      He may be talking about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkf7HP2-pr8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkf7HP2-pr8
      - semi-extrinsic 9y ago
        ... holy hell, that was nasty.
      - bArray 9y ago
        Obviously off topic now, but as a youngster in the gym I used to use a similar machine that required me to lay down and push my legs. I worked my way up to max weights on that machine (very quickly). One day I pushed my legs out and heard this terrible crunch come from my lower spine, was barely able to hobble back home. It was near enough back to normal after 2 days or so, but scared the hell out of me. For me it goes to show that humans are more fragile than we often like to think.
    - emmelaich 9y ago
      What, can't you hear?
  - rjbwork 9y ago
    I love leg press, it's my second favorite lift next to deadlift (with a hex bar, I'm not competitive or anything, no need to risk the back). You have to be VERY careful not to lockout. I always end at like a 140-160 degree angle, far less than a straight 180. If you lockout, you're going to have a bad time eventually.
    - komali2 9y ago
      Shit, is the hex bar working the same stuff? Should I just switch to that? I'm underlifting for fear of my back
      - rjbwork 9y ago
        Yeah. It's basically dead lift with the weight shifted along your mid-line instead of in front of your shins. Makes it really easy to keep good form since you're not worried about getting it over your knees. I find the grip is much more natural as well, since your hands are at your sides rather than in front of you.
      - jclos 9y ago
        It's not the exact same stuff, but for all intents and purposes if you're not planning on competing in a powerlifting event anytime soon it's close enough that you could substitute it. It's actually used quite a lot for athletes who can't afford to have a sore lower back in training practice.
Zitrax 9y ago
That happened to me too, don't think I got any permanent damage but that sound is super loud. Still a bit scared of that machine for no other reason than the sound.
hkmurakami 9y ago
I totally know what you mean by "static". Have had that issue in my left ear for decades. Not really even sure what caused it originally. Iirc I get the static at realty high decibels of some kind of frequency.
- KozmoNau7 9y ago
  I'm not sure if it's the same thing, but I get sort of the same thing in my left ear, specifically with very loud deep bass. I've always thought of it more as a rattle.
- tajen 9y ago
  Check when your eardrum is broken.
ch0wn 9y ago
My gym actually has a few machines were the weights regularly get stuck like this. I never considered this to be a danger. Thanks a lot for sharing that. I'll pay more attention to that in the future.
lttlrck 9y ago
It may recover with time. When I was a teen I dismantled a shotgun cartridge and removed the shot and paper charge (lots of tiny paper discs). I stuffed them down the thick end of a car telescopic antenna cut to about 4” with the end folded over. I threw in a couple of pieces of lead shot, tamped it down with a piece of paper, stuck the tube under a rock and set up a paper target 6” away. I was optimistic. Then, with a friend, held a lighter under the closed end. Fortunately I was to the side. Predictably it fired out the back... it was very loud. Possibly the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. It could have gone wrong is so many way. The adolescent brain is a strange thing. The ringing lasted a few years but went away.
- timonovici 9y ago
  Oh, I just took a shotgun cartridge (the one used for hunting, but the old kind, made completely out of brass), flipped in with the primer up, and hit it with a hammer. Good thing my father stored those ones without the lead. The bang and flash made dizzy, and as I heard my father coming from backyard, I took cartridge to hide it - it was freaking hot, burned my hand as well.
  - ficklepickle 9y ago
    I took all the powder out, wrapped it in tinfoil, and put it in the fireplace. I was impatient, and sprayed it with cooking oil spray. The instant I closed the door again, boom. Makes me cringe to think I was only 7 or 8 years old. Shortly after that, a retired cop saw us throwing rifle bullets down cement stairs with rocks taped to the primers, trying to set them off. He very calmly and sternly told us how dangerous that was. It is amazing that any boys survive to adulthood. I don't think I could have kids, knowing what I got up to.
    - komali2 9y ago
      The other obvious question I think is why all of y'all had access to live ammunition at eight years old.
      - 9y ago
sizzle 9y ago
Will headphones protect from these loud impacts?
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- rocky1138 9y ago
  I don't have any data but I think it's fair to assume that ANYTHING in front of the ear which reduces sound coming in will help on the protection front. It won't be a panacea, however.
etrautmann 9y ago
I frequently wear headphones as much for the attenuation of dangerously loud noises in public places (gyms, trains, etc) as for actually listening to something. Your story is terrifying.
hollander 9y ago
I've heard this noise, but then much less loud, and the fact that I remember it tells enough. I just let the weight lose for the last 5cm or so, and that was enough for me not to do this again. I wasn't close with my ears, so no problem. I'm sorry for your loss and I hope you can find a way to handle it.
plasma 9y ago
Not sure if you’ve ever seen this tinnitus relief video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ajb37ie-Juo https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ajb37ie-Juo
- PeterStuer 9y ago
  That works for a few seconds, not more.
emmelaich 9y ago
I saw someone do maintenance on a pile-driver while it was working right next to where the pile-driver hit. It must have been really effective ear protection, but they didn't look so big. And never mind the sound, the whole head / body is going to be rattled by the vibrations. You wonder ... [edit] I looked up the data. 190db peak for this type (H steel piles)
manojlds 9y ago
Whoa this happens many times at my gym, though the wait drops part way up. Will be extra careful now!

Exuma 9y ago

Jesus, this entire post is terrifying.

jclos 9y ago

I already thought the leg press machine was a death trap, but you managed to give me another reason to dislike it. I think I'll stick to squatting.

komali2 9y ago
Ever since that video where the girl's legs go chicken style so very slowly while she screams, I've been scared as shit to get on that thing.
- rubicon33 9y ago
  uhhh... what?
  - felipemnoa 9y ago
    He may be talking about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkf7HP2-pr8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkf7HP2-pr8
    - semi-extrinsic 9y ago
      ... holy hell, that was nasty.
    - bArray 9y ago
      Obviously off topic now, but as a youngster in the gym I used to use a similar machine that required me to lay down and push my legs. I worked my way up to max weights on that machine (very quickly). One day I pushed my legs out and heard this terrible crunch come from my lower spine, was barely able to hobble back home. It was near enough back to normal after 2 days or so, but scared the hell out of me. For me it goes to show that humans are more fragile than we often like to think.
  - emmelaich 9y ago
    What, can't you hear?
- rjbwork 9y ago
  I love leg press, it's my second favorite lift next to deadlift (with a hex bar, I'm not competitive or anything, no need to risk the back). You have to be VERY careful not to lockout. I always end at like a 140-160 degree angle, far less than a straight 180. If you lockout, you're going to have a bad time eventually.
  - komali2 9y ago
    Shit, is the hex bar working the same stuff? Should I just switch to that? I'm underlifting for fear of my back
    - rjbwork 9y ago
      Yeah. It's basically dead lift with the weight shifted along your mid-line instead of in front of your shins. Makes it really easy to keep good form since you're not worried about getting it over your knees. I find the grip is much more natural as well, since your hands are at your sides rather than in front of you.
    - jclos 9y ago
      It's not the exact same stuff, but for all intents and purposes if you're not planning on competing in a powerlifting event anytime soon it's close enough that you could substitute it. It's actually used quite a lot for athletes who can't afford to have a sore lower back in training practice.

Zitrax 9y ago

That happened to me too, don't think I got any permanent damage but that sound is super loud. Still a bit scared of that machine for no other reason than the sound.

hkmurakami 9y ago

I totally know what you mean by "static". Have had that issue in my left ear for decades. Not really even sure what caused it originally. Iirc I get the static at realty high decibels of some kind of frequency.

KozmoNau7 9y ago
I'm not sure if it's the same thing, but I get sort of the same thing in my left ear, specifically with very loud deep bass. I've always thought of it more as a rattle.
tajen 9y ago
Check when your eardrum is broken.

ch0wn 9y ago

My gym actually has a few machines were the weights regularly get stuck like this. I never considered this to be a danger. Thanks a lot for sharing that. I'll pay more attention to that in the future.

lttlrck 9y ago

It may recover with time. When I was a teen I dismantled a shotgun cartridge and removed the shot and paper charge (lots of tiny paper discs). I stuffed them down the thick end of a car telescopic antenna cut to about 4” with the end folded over. I threw in a couple of pieces of lead shot, tamped it down with a piece of paper, stuck the tube under a rock and set up a paper target 6” away. I was optimistic. Then, with a friend, held a lighter under the closed end. Fortunately I was to the side. Predictably it fired out the back... it was very loud. Possibly the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. It could have gone wrong is so many way. The adolescent brain is a strange thing. The ringing lasted a few years but went away.

timonovici 9y ago
Oh, I just took a shotgun cartridge (the one used for hunting, but the old kind, made completely out of brass), flipped in with the primer up, and hit it with a hammer. Good thing my father stored those ones without the lead. The bang and flash made dizzy, and as I heard my father coming from backyard, I took cartridge to hide it - it was freaking hot, burned my hand as well.
- ficklepickle 9y ago
  I took all the powder out, wrapped it in tinfoil, and put it in the fireplace. I was impatient, and sprayed it with cooking oil spray. The instant I closed the door again, boom. Makes me cringe to think I was only 7 or 8 years old. Shortly after that, a retired cop saw us throwing rifle bullets down cement stairs with rocks taped to the primers, trying to set them off. He very calmly and sternly told us how dangerous that was. It is amazing that any boys survive to adulthood. I don't think I could have kids, knowing what I got up to.
  - komali2 9y ago
    The other obvious question I think is why all of y'all had access to live ammunition at eight years old.
    - 9y ago

sizzle 9y ago

Will headphones protect from these loud impacts?

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
rocky1138 9y ago
I don't have any data but I think it's fair to assume that ANYTHING in front of the ear which reduces sound coming in will help on the protection front. It won't be a panacea, however.

etrautmann 9y ago

I frequently wear headphones as much for the attenuation of dangerously loud noises in public places (gyms, trains, etc) as for actually listening to something. Your story is terrifying.

hollander 9y ago

I've heard this noise, but then much less loud, and the fact that I remember it tells enough. I just let the weight lose for the last 5cm or so, and that was enough for me not to do this again. I wasn't close with my ears, so no problem. I'm sorry for your loss and I hope you can find a way to handle it.

plasma 9y ago

Not sure if you’ve ever seen this tinnitus relief video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ajb37ie-Juo https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ajb37ie-Juo

PeterStuer 9y ago
That works for a few seconds, not more.

emmelaich 9y ago

I saw someone do maintenance on a pile-driver while it was working right next to where the pile-driver hit. It must have been really effective ear protection, but they didn't look so big. And never mind the sound, the whole head / body is going to be rattled by the vibrations. You wonder ... [edit] I looked up the data. 190db peak for this type (H steel piles)

manojlds 9y ago

Whoa this happens many times at my gym, though the wait drops part way up. Will be extra careful now!