Do you Even Crossfit, Bro?
Crossfit is the latest fitness trend, and it seems that people either absolutely love it, or absolutely hate it. There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground. I set out to find out what all the fuss is about, and whether or not it’s actually a worthwhile activity.
For those who don’t know, Crossfit is a high-intensity fitness regimen based around functionality and designed to improve overall fitness and health. Crossfit.com explains it like this, “CrossFit is constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity. All CrossFit workouts are based on functional movements, and these movements reflect the best aspects of gymnastics, weightlifting, running, rowing and more. These are the core movements of life.”
As a weight lifter myself, I was skeptical learning more about Crossfit because of its reputation of extremes. It is known for incredibly high intensity workouts. Not only that, but Crossfit workouts usually entail many repetitions of a single exercise in a small amount of time. That comes with huge risks of injury because it’s easy to compromise form on an exercise when you’re pressed for time. I’m all for a challenge, and pushing yourself in order to see progress, but how much is too much?
“Quite often you are asked to do a series of moves in AMRAP, or as many rounds as possible, in seven (or ten, or twelve…) minutes. Or, you are given a proscribed number of rounds, but you have to do them for time. This means that you are generally moving pretty fast. Given the technical nature of many lifting movements, coupled with weight and fatigue, you run the risk of getting sloppy and then getting hurt,” says Jamie Shane of Fitnationmag.com.
That’s all great until someone gets hurt.
Dan Diamond of Forbes.com detailed the injury rate in Crossfit, and it is astounding. “This 2013 study, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, was designed to look at the frequency of injury in CrossFit athletes during routine training. Of the 132 people who responded to the survey, 97 (or nearly three-quarters) reported getting hurt during CrossFit training, and most injuries involved the shoulders and spine. These respondents reported a total of 186 injuries; nine led to surgeries.”
There have even been reports of a condition called rhabdomyolysis associated with Crossfit. Rhabdomyolysis is when muscle fibers are pushed until they break down, enter the bloodstream, and lead to kidney damage. Life-threatening kidney damage. So, pretty serious stuff here.
On the other side of the coin, there are those who absolutely love it, and have made it a way of life. The difference comes in the specific gym and coach that you have. Just like any gym out there, there are coaches with the knowledge and experience to properly guide you, and there are those without.
“At a good CrossFit gym, or “box” as they’re called, coaches will help you build a foundation, teaching you about technique and consistency. Once you’ve got those down, then you can add intensity. Without proper form, there’s no point to add speed or volume because you won’t make any fitness gains and may injure yourself.” Says Cristina Goyanes of Shape Magazine.
Also, the community of Crossfit is known to be very encouraging and motivating. Goyantes describes this in Shape Magazine when she says, “CrossFit is a welcoming community, says Christmas Abbott, who has had classmates beat her in a WOD only to turn right around and cheer her on until she’s finished. Even if you feel out of place at first, that uncertainty will disappear by the end of a hard workout when you’re struggling and have 10 to 15 people cheering you on.”
When it comes to Crossfit, my conclusion is to not be an idiot. If it interests you, it is worth trying, but too much of anything is never good. Crossfit is no exception. Take the time to scope out the Crossfit gyms in the area and make sure you choose the right one for you, as each one is just slightly different. It is no different than any other fitness regimen in that it’s important to follow the guidance of your coach, and not push your body to or past the point of injury. Listen to your body, and tell your coach if you feel uneasy about something.
“First and foremost, you need a gym with competent, experienced coaches. You should be able to see through that particular CrossFit gym’s website — not the main CF site — who the coaches are and how long they have been teaching, including their certifications,” writes Steve of Nerdfitness.com.
Despite all the hype, negative and positive, surrounding Crossfit, go for it if it interests you! If done right, it comes with unbelievable physical progress that you can be proud of, and a tight, supportive community to be a part of.
