{"id":1635,"date":"2012-06-11T12:18:28","date_gmt":"2012-06-11T19:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/libernetics.com\/?p=1635"},"modified":"2012-06-11T12:18:28","modified_gmt":"2012-06-11T19:18:28","slug":"crossfit-the-danger-zone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/libernetics.com\/?p=1635","title":{"rendered":"Crossfit: the danger zone"},"content":{"rendered":"

The other day I was reading the CFES<\/a> blog and noticed someone posted a blog post from another site called “CrossFit\u2122 : A 100% Chance of Injury<\/a>?” \u00a0The author is a young man named Anthony Johnson. \u00a0I don’t know him, nor had never visited his blog before. \u00a0Here is what he has to say:<\/p>\n

“I\u2019ve been thinking a lot lately that crossfit\u2122 might actually have a 100% chance of injury when practiced over a lifetime.”<\/em><\/p>\n

First, let me say I think he is correct: all CrossFit activity will eventually result in an injury. \u00a0Crossfit is dangerous. \u00a0Once you introduce a time domain in a\u00a0competitive\u00a0atmosphere you’re in the danger zone. \u00a0Just like any other sport. \u00a0I should also say as an aside there is a subtle nuance to the phrase “competitive\u00a0atmosphere” — at CFES\u00a0\u00a0it’s more about achieving individual peak performance, and everybody respects and supports\u00a0everybody\u00a0else’s\u00a0achievements. \u00a0I’ve written about this before (“Crossfit and the Nature of competition: a Few Notes and Comments<\/a>“.) \u00a0When your goal is get beyond your current\u00a0limitations there are bound to be risks.<\/p>\n

In any case Johnson’s main point was that the ideal of peak\u00a0performance is OK, but risk has to be managed. \u00a0He thinks CrossFit is too dangerous. \u00a0Johnson doesn’t think CrossFit is safe under an circumstances, doesn’t like barbell squats, doesn’t think CrossFit gyms are competently run, and finds the practice of CrossFit to be irrational and stupid.<\/p>\n

“Well first you need to fully grasp that it is fundamentally unsafe, and if practiced as an exercise program, will result in an unknown injury, perhaps multiple times over, perhaps permanent, and perhaps 10 years after you quit CrossFit\u2122.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“…Secondly, you need to realize that fundamentally, CrossFit\u2122 is not (actually) exercise in the first place. It\u2019s a hybrid between a recreational and competitive activity with a random array of exercise side effects. Furthermore, many of these (random if not arbitrary) physical movements, fit quite well into the public conception of the concept of exercise.”<\/em><\/p>\n

As it so happens I have several friends who were cyclists, runners, basketball players, skiers etc. who have sustained broken collarbones, hips, wrists, legs, concussions, injured backs and necks. \u00a0But I agree the best course is to manage risks. \u00a0That requires discipline, patience,\u00a0forbearance, and a certain amount of humility.<\/p>\n

My understanding, from reading various comments and discussions about the history of CrossFit is that it was designed for people in\u00a0disaster response professions: policemen, firemen, paramedics, SWAT teams, soldiers\u00a0or other para-military\u00a0professions.<\/p>\n

At the heart of Crossfit is one huge demand: intensity with a time constraint. \u00a0It is meant to be brutal and demanding. \u00a0Yes you can and should scale it — but you don’t reduce the intensity. \u00a0That alone should be a warning about the nature of CrossFit.<\/p>\n

I suspect Johnson would say I’ve missed the point, which is that there are ways to achieve the same results\u00a0without\u00a0the risks that CrossFit poses. \u00a0Well I’ll keep an open mind.<\/p>\n

In the meantime I admit I like the\u00a0challenge, the fear, the\u00a0adrenaline rush. \u00a0I like the “random and arbitrary” nature of the workouts. \u00a0I like beating the odds just one more time.<\/p>\n

Cheers.
\n