Bachelorette Alum Gabby Windey Sustains Back Injury During Fitness Routine
Former Bachelorette contestant Gabby Windey cracked a vertebra in her spine while using a vibration plate set to maximum intensity. The 35-year-old detailed the incident in an essay, explaining that a piece of bone broke off due to friction and has since experienced paresthesia, a tingling sensation. Windey humorously acknowledged joining what she calls the community of people dealing with back issues.
Windey sustained the spinal injury while operating a vibration plate, a fitness device designed to enhance muscle engagement and lymphatic circulation through rapid oscillation. The incident occurred when she increased the machine's setting to its maximum level, causing vertebral friction that dislodged a bone fragment. Following the accident, she developed paresthesia, characterized by persistent tingling sensations that she described as simultaneously tormenting and titillating.
In her detailed personal essay published on Substack, Windey reflected on the broader context of her injury, connecting it to societal beauty standards and wellness culture. The 35-year-old, who won the reality competition series The Traitors and married actor Robby Hoffman in 2025, used her account to explore the intersection of self-care practices and physical risk, ultimately joining what she humorously termed the community of individuals managing chronic back conditions.
The incident may prompt broader conversations about fitness device safety and the risks associated with high-intensity wellness equipment. Windey's public account could influence how consumers approach unfamiliar exercise technology and maximum settings, potentially encouraging more cautious use. Additionally, her candid disclosure about spinal injury and ongoing symptoms may contribute to destigmatizing conversations around chronic pain conditions, particularly among public figures whose visibility could normalize discussion of health challenges within entertainment and wellness communities.