Crossfit is dangerous.

Jayjay1989a wrote: »

Hi -
New to all this and was thinking joining crossfit. Must admit I am concerned with what I have read so far. Is it just too dangerous?

Perhaps people should just stick to safer sports like low impact swimming as opposed to this?

Since you are new to conditioning, then you might want to get a basic physical before doing a lot of exercise and invest in a heart rate monitor to avoid overdoing it. Basic physical is required for sports, but a lot of people venturing on their own later in life overlook the need for it to catch health problems that might limit your abilities.

Crossfit is completely safe if you workout within your ability range. Talk to your instructor before the class, and tell them that you are a beginner and that you want to work into it slowly.

lithezebra wrote: »

JoshuaMcAllister wrote: »

You can't be serious?

ps. crossfit technically isn't a sport. You commenting about sticking to safer sports like low impact swimming has be strongly suspecting you are a troll. These two 'sports' have drastically different calorie burns and muscles used.

Actually, crossfit and swimming have similar calorie burns, around 700/hr if you go at it hard, and both offer a full body workout. You are a lot less likely to be injured swimming, although, if you're not good at it, you might drown.

Why not do both? You can make adjustments for your fitness level, and any injuries you have, when you're doing crossfit. Swimming could be an excellent full body workout of the day. There are also beginner friendly WODs, like these:

http://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/beginner-crossfit-workouts/

Okay, if you are a stronger swimmer who completes lengths of the pool consistently for an hour your calorie burn is likely to match that of an hour crossfit. The average swimmer will not have that consistency over that duration and is likely to burn far fewer calories, I'm not saying it can't be matched but your average Joe will not get a comparative burn.

I'm not saying do one or the other. I get involved with multiple sports, swimming being one, I just don't think swimming and crossfit are fair comparison.

I think with a good instructor it's probably a fun workout.

I have seen a total moron teaching a class that was dangerous. It was a crossfit gym with many windows that I walked past often with my dog.

This idiot had people jumping with heavy weights throwing them around and running swinging them - I'm positive he lost clients to injuries. 100%. Once I saw him on some weight machine stacked with a lot of weight and he'd jump in the air and land while yanking down the bar to the floor. I had to stop and watch that and wonder if I'd need to dial 911 it was so ridiculous. Form was atrocious and of course the shock of so many movements that our bodies are not designed to do...

That gym closed after only a couple months.

Again, I don't think it's dangerous if you get a competent instructor. And if you are physically capable of doing it.

JoshuaMcAllister wrote: »

lithezebra wrote: »

JoshuaMcAllister wrote: »

You can't be serious?

ps. crossfit technically isn't a sport. You commenting about sticking to safer sports like low impact swimming has be strongly suspecting you are a troll. These two 'sports' have drastically different calorie burns and muscles used.

Actually, crossfit and swimming have similar calorie burns, around 700/hr if you go at it hard, and both offer a full body workout. You are a lot less likely to be injured swimming, although, if you're not good at it, you might drown.

Why not do both? You can make adjustments for your fitness level, and any injuries you have, when you're doing crossfit. Swimming could be an excellent full body workout of the day. There are also beginner friendly WODs, like these:

http://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/beginner-crossfit-workouts/

Okay, if you are a stronger swimmer who completes lengths of the pool consistently for an hour your calorie burn is likely to match that of an hour crossfit. The average swimmer will not have that consistency over that duration and is likely to burn far fewer calories, I'm not saying it can't be matched but your average Joe will not get a comparative burn.

I'm not saying do one or the other. I get involved with multiple sports, swimming being one, I just don't think swimming and crossfit are fair comparison.

People don't do crossfit at that calorie burn for an hour either, unless they're already extremely strong. I see a lot of WODs that take 15-20 minutes. I like to mix it up too.

Find an exercise that is good for you and your body. Because of the weird shape of my joints (congenital), my hopes of becoming a dancer were dashed early in life after an injury. I can't even run safely. So I kill at the gym in a way that is safe for my body and does the job well. Everyone is different.

I know a handful of folks who do Crossfit. They're a bit annoying in their devotion, like my friends who do SoulCycle. And let's face it, yoga people can be like that too. But they haven't been injured or harmed in any way so far. What makes them fit, what makes them feel good, what makes them want to keep improving their health and fitness is a wonderful thing for them.

Sounds like YOU shouldn't do Crossfit. Spend time finding what works for you.

Are you thinking of CrossFit and the risk of rhabdomyolysis? I know it seems to have gottena alot of press lately but I'd be interested in seeing what the stats really are and how they compare, for example, to injuries sustained cycling etc.

CrossFit has never appealed to me personally bit I know a few people who love it (I'm not a fan of the exercise until you puke mentality) perhaps something like Stronglifts 5 x 5 may appeal to you more. I've just started it myself (I've been running & cycling etc for quite a few years but wanted to work on strength) and I like the approach (it's very simple, 3 x weekly and the philosophy is to leave you wanting more)

I love love love CrossFit. Any athlete participating in a physical sport has some risk of injury. That's about all there is to it.

Jayjay1989a wrote: »

Hi -
New to all this and was thinking joining crossfit. Must admit I am concerned with what I have read so far. Is it just too dangerous?

Perhaps people should just stick to safer sports like low impact swimming as opposed to this?

CrossFit is not any more dangerous than any other intense physical activity. I've had more injuries playing basketball 3 months out of the year (plenty including jammed fingers, rolled ankles, a concussion) than I've had in 7 months of CrossFit (none).

That's not to say that injuries don't happen in CrossFit because they do, but they also happen in running, basketball, baseball, zumba, etc. If you want to be safe, don't get out of bed.

By the way, just because you read something on the internet, doesn't mean it's true.

I have 3 herniated discs from a car accident I got into 4 years ago. Tried physical therapy, went to a chiro 3 days a week for over a year, and not until starting Crossfit did my lower back pain go away. I've moved in the last year so I've been a member at 3 different Crossfit gyms. All of my coaches made us focus on form before anything else! They didn't care if I was just lifting a 15 lb bar because they understand that no one knows your body better than you do. That's why every workout can be modified and you do what you CAN do. There's a reason people of all sizes and ages can do it. Crossfit is only dangerous if you're careless about form and don't listen to your coaches. Like any exercise or sport, you push yourself but you try to better yourself without competing against others which in my mind makes Crossfit less dangerous than say, soccer. People see kipping pull-ups on tv and think noway can that be good for your body, which I can see why, but most people aren't doing those - only those that are in phenomenal shape and like super athletes are. You're not forced to do anything though! I say try it and see if you like it yourself! Hope that helps.