Is CrossFit dangerous?
CrossFit has a stigma…it’s meant for elite athletes and is dangerous for anyone else. I’d like to reassure you that it’s not.
Why would an injury occur? Doing too much too quickly, and with poor form is the main culprit. Some main points to keep in mind is maintaining your weight on your heels, and ensuring a lumbar curve in your back for many of the movements.
Mechanics and consistency is needed before intensity.
Another factor is when a load is outside of your area of base. Your area of base is defined as the imaginary box that surrounds your feet on the floor. Imagine doing an overhead squat with the bar 6 inches in front of you. That’s a shoulder injury waiting to happen. So, keep that load over your area of base and lock it in.
Now, let’s put CrossFit injuries into perspective. Take the New York City marathon. Every year, one person dies from running this grueling feat of endurance. Also, 1 in 7 people don’t finish the race due to injury, dehydration, etc.
Can you imagine if we did Fran and had to carry two people off to the hospital? We’d be in a lot of trouble if that were the case.
So keep that chest up, back tight and heels down and give it all you got! You’ll see if you follow proper mechanics, you’ll have little to worry about.
Rob maintains great form, even under a heavy load
Is Crossfit is dangerous? Could be…like driving a car, if you don’t pay attention and don’t follow the guidance it could be dangerous.
But let me ask the question in another way. Is NOT doing Crossfit is dangerous?
For my experience… If it’s wasn’t for crossfit, I wouldn’t exercise that much because I never last more than 2 months in row at a regular gym. I wouldn’t feel that great, because regular gym never changed anything to my body. I wouldn’t have met all those great people who motivate you and eventually become really good friends. I wouldn’t be able to let the stress out because I wouldn’t have time to spend 2 hours a day in a gym. Finally, I would probably have increase my chance of getting disease and obesity in the future.
So really…where is the real danger? For me, the danger is greater by NOT doing Crossfit!
Think about it!
I agree!!! I would be yo-yo gyming…
Great write-up MC!!
So true MC. Well said.
Very well put MC…
I agree 100%
And Kev too of course… gotta start for the begining here lol!
Very true! They talk about that at the Level 1 cert….the levels of danger.
From the most to least dangerous:
1) Not doing anything
2) Doing non-functional movements
3) Doing functional movements with poor form
4) Doing functional movements correctly
Ran 7km with Chantal @ the Running Room….
First time I do 7km… and plus this group was going at a faster pace then the other group as an extra challenge! Can’t beleive I was able to complete it! Thanks Crossfit!