A quick way to get in shape… or injured? Is crossfit dangerous? Crossfit’s extreme cardio, gymnastics and weightlifting exercises have sparked debates about its potentially harmful effects.
Like any exercise routine, there’s both good and bad aspects. Let’s look at why Crossfit is a risk but also why it’s proved to be a sound choice for some people.
Why It Could Be Harmful
With all the extreme workouts Crossfitters do, it’s not hard to imagine why it could be harmful, but here a few major reasons:
Improper Form
This is a common cause of injuries in any physical situation, but when you’re lifting weights up to 200 lbs, proper form is a must.
Straining incorrect joints or muscles during exercises not only makes the effort useless; it can cause dislocation, tearing or equipment injuries. Crossfit, however, encourages pain during workouts, so people often ignore or push through pain without knowing it’s caused by improper form.
Competitive Drive
Part of the reason why Crossfit has become so popular is the competitive energy behind it. Each person strives to become more fit than the person standing next to him/her.
While there’s nothing wrong with healthy competition, Crossfit participants often treat things like vomiting or injuries as rites of passage. According to them, it shows hard work and determination, but this mentality could eventually push their bodies to an unhealthy breaking point.
Health Problems
When that unhealthy breaking point occurs, the consequences could be severe.
During Crossfit workouts, participants build muscle after it repairs itself from minor damage, but if too much muscle is harmed, the body can suffer from things such as an overuse injury to kidney damage from rhabdomyolysis, a condition caused by muscle fibers releasing into the bloodstream.
How It Could Work
However, getting fit in a safe way can build a productive lifestyle. Many find great satisfaction from the Crossfit craze, and most of the movements (lifting, squatting) are used in everyday life, but you can’t walk right into it without following a few rules.
Listen to Your Body
Although the intense workouts support pain, it’s important to recognize when your body’s had enough.
Understand the difference between good and bad pain. If regular muscle soreness doesn’t go away, it’s more important to seek medical attention than to continue to damage your body. There are workouts you can do that are safer for your injuries while you recover, such as underwater therapy or even simply walking. It’s also important to keep an internal body balance. Poor metabolism won’t allow your body to repair itself after workouts.
Form Before Weight
Weightlifting is a popular Crossfit activity, but so often people are tempted to show off by piling on the weight instead of first mastering the technique.
Most Crossfit injuries are due to bad form, so it’s important to know exactly how to do something before you do it. When you do something correctly, you’re exercising the correct muscle, which means you’ll add weight faster than if you just jumped right into things.
Find a Certified Trainer
Something so vigorous and extreme as Crossfit can’t be done alone, which is why it’s important to be trained by a specialist.
Going at it alone or with the advice of a friend is what leads to injuries. A professional who knows the program and knows your limits is the key to making this lifestyle a healthy one.
The Verdict?
Is Crossfit truly dangerous? Well, it can’t be treated as simply a passing craze. It’s serious bodybuilding. If you take proper precautions, know your limits and don’t get caught up in the intense challenges, it can be a satisfying way to get fit.
Photos: Crossfit Huntsville | sunsurfr
