Is CrossFit Safe? A Scientific Review

Comments · 166

• BA

  @BarbellMedicine · 2 years ago · pinned

  The injury risk from CrossFit does not appear to be higher than other forms of exercise. Check the video for why :)

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• TH

  @TheDankCat127 · 2 years ago

  Maturity is realizing that CrossFit has done more to make ordinary people get off the couch and touch a barbell than any of us making fun of it ever will.

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• LI

  @liz9147 · 7 months ago (edited)

  I'm 62 and I've been doing CF for about 12 years, on and off.  I don't go hard, I scale everything, I still can't do a pull up or really anything particularly gymnastic, but still I'm in amazing shape for my age according to my doctor.  I started at 50 overweight and heading in a very bad way metabolically, and now all my bloods etc are well within normal range.  I just hit the gym 3-4 times a week, do my workout, eat sensibly and get on with my life. The worst injury I've had is squat DOMS if I've had a couple of weeks off. Oh and ab mat buttrub.  IYKYK. You do you but for me CF is better than a lifetime of drugs, decline  and decrepitude.

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• SA

  @samhennies6493 · 1 year ago

  My wife talked me into joining.  Been at it 2 weeks.  It’s been quite a wake up call. I’m 56. Have played basketball and Raquetball until I was 52. Then couldn’t find people to play with. So far, I got injured more often playing basketball and racketball—- rolled ankles, stitches from a racket, etc.   I hope I can stick with it. The group is supportive for even a novice like me. Just my 2 cents.

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• NI

  @NicolaH-dj2bf · 1 year ago

  Interesting video. I've been doing CrossFit for a few months now and really enjoy it and there is much more coaching than a standard gym class. I think it's important to find something that you enjoy.

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• MT

  @mtro62 · 2 years ago

  Data point on my experience.  I’m 62, in my third year of CF and this year qualified for and completed CF Games age group Semifinals.  Also have competed I other fitness sports like Hyrox and TFX.  I have had zero injuries, only some elbow tendonitis in my first 3 months.  Admittedly, I was reasonably fit going into CF but had little experience with Olympic barbell lifts like snatches and cleans.  The workouts are infinitely scalable to give time to learn and build correct movements.  I’m 5’7”and weighed 159lbs at 20% body fat when I started.  Now at 152lbs, 10% body fat and shredded.  Not trying to be CF fanboy, just sharing my experience and results.

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• RE

  @rej4166 · 2 years ago

  I love CrossFit. I love all modes of fitness but for the last two years CrossFit has been my favorite flavor. As a busy person, what I most like is I don't have to think about programming,  and all my work is done in one hour.

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• BA

  @BarryWhite-z6n · 12 days ago

  I’m a 66 year old physician who has been doing CF for over 3 years. I have shin scars from box-jump falls, occasional tendinitis, and intermittent low back pain. No major injuries. I often scale workouts and pace myself. Intense CF workouts have warded off depression, encouraged me to push myself and try other challenges like Tough Mudder. When I was in practice, i recommended my reasonably fit patients to try it, and do the same now to anyone who wants whole-body fitness. Being better fit helps me on my small farm every day. I love it and the community I work out with in Danville, KY. In short, I’m addicted!

• SN

  @snorelax3908 · 2 years ago

  I"m a physiotherapist and I'm happy when anyone does any kind of exercise. In my clinical experience I'd say crossfit injuries are about as common as football injuries. The difference is the footballers rarely get their injuries training in the gym. I see a lot of people say things like 'I have bad knees because I played football for years'. I now see people say the same thing about having done crossfit for years. Also, one of my standard questions is 'what exercise routine do you typically do?'. The 'I used to do crossfit' crowd is very common and the most common answer for why they stopped is generally 'I was sick of all the accumulation of injuries'. The survey studies are fine and all but I'd say nothing perpetuates the crossfit injury myth quite like all the people who quit doing crossfit. And there are an awful lot of them.

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• JI

  @Jillousa · 1 year ago

  CrossFit took me from overweight and struggling to run a minute to lean and running 5 full marathons and 7 half marathons without injury

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• AR

  @archibaldplum5171 · 10 months ago

  My own experience of CrossFit had more  injuries than PRs, which is why I switched to a more ad-hoc running, rowing, and weightlifting. That ended the injuries and gave me way more progress.

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• NU

  @nutritionontape · 2 years ago

  Crossfit has also rehabbed my body after rheumatoid arthritis. So it has reversed my injuries.<br><br>I&apos;ll give a specific example: &nbsp;I lost wrist mobility big time...my rheumatologist said that i might not get full range of motion back (and to be careful).<br><br>A few years of training and my body adapted to front squats, rope climbs, hand stands etc etc. &nbsp;<br><br>Now I can never stop.

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