Is CrossFit Dangerous?

Every year I watch the CrossFit games in awe as men and women compete and lift incredibly heavy weights in addition to performing extreme cardio and amazing strength exercises. I wonder how they can do these intense moves without injury. I’ve learned that Cross Fit workouts are risky and the “telltale injuries [of this sport include]: slipped disks, torn rotator cuffs, knee tendinopathy” (1). Wow! If that doesn’t scare you, this should. CrossFit is so dangerous “that it could induce rhabdomyolisis, a potentially fatal condition in which muscle tissue breaks down and releases into the bloodstream” (1).

There are risks in every sport, but CrossFit encourages puking, defecating and urinating during the workouts since that means they went the extra mile. Reality check: they went way beyond their capabilities. I’m all for building muscle and working out hard, but going to that level and beyond just means trouble.

The military is a hardcore, no-excuses entity so I assumed they would embrace CrossFit workouts. To my surprise, “in 2011 the U.S. military in conjunction with the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine), advised soldiers to avoid CrossFit, citing “disproportionate musculoskeletal injury risk.” (1)

I understand some of the appeal with CrossFit: the camaraderie, fast strength gains, and the adrenaline rush, but is it worth the risk? If you’ve tried CrossFit or are a CrossFit fan, I’d like to hear from you.

Source: (1) November issue of Outside Magazine article titled “Growing Pains: The Crossfit backlash is in full swing-led by a long list of injured participants.” Pg 64.