Is CrossFit Dangerous?
CrossFit is popular, but some claim its not safe
Over the last ten years, CrossFit has exploded, becoming one of the most popular forms of exercise ever.
The combination of constantly changing workouts and a focus on community attracts many individuals to this training style.
The growth of CrossFit has also come with a large backlash, with many in the strength and conditioning world disapproving of the methodology. This article will cover two topics.
- First, is CrossFit safe to perform, or is the injury risk too high?
- Second, what can be done to reduce CrossFit injury rates for those wanting to participate in this type of training?
When fitness professionals critique CrossFit, they often cite a few common issues:
- Olympic lifts are performed for high reps and under fatigue.
- Box jumps are performed in long, intense workouts.
- And, of course, the dreaded kipping movements seen in CrossFit
A typical argument is that these training tactics are improper and will surely create serious injuries in CrossFit.
While it is true that these are tactics not seen anywhere else in the fitness world, we have to be careful not to let our biases trump science.
Over the last several years, several research studies have looked at CrossFit injury rates.
Those studies are listed below, with the numbers representing the calculated number of injuries per 1,000 training hours.
In CrossFit, you’ll see a range between 0.27 and 18.9 injuries, with 7 of those 9 studies showing rates under four injuries per 1,000 hours.
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