An amazing CULT-ure: Crossfit...Good or bad?

[Cwoods]

As "the experts," NPs are expected to have opinions about all things r/t health. What's your opinion on Crossfit? Would you recommend your patients take part in it? Do you do it? Is it safe?

Most Physical Therapists that I know are anti-crossfit. Most sports med guys that I know are anti-crossfit; however, I have a hard time being against it when I've seen some good things come out of the program.

What do yall think?

[BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP]

I've seen a lot of patients in Urgent Care with injuries from CrossFit. There's not a lot of instruction or support in the CrossFit "boxes", and it's too competitive. I think it is a bit of a cultish mindset. There are better and safer ways to work out. I think it's ok for someone who is already very fit and knows good body mechanics. I don't think it's a particularly safe way to get in shape for most people.

I wouldn't do it myself. I already have issues from overtraining and improper training in gymnastics years ago as a teen. Two of my son's friends are degreed, professional athletic trainers who work with college and professional athletes. They don't feel CrossFit is safe for the average person.

[MJC2118, APRN]

I don't personally do Crossfit, but know a lot of people that do with my husband being one of them. There is a modification for everything and it's not a requirement to go everyday or to "keep up." Everyone is encouraged to go at their own pace. The way I see it, just from what I've heard

, is that the potential of injury occurs when someone pushes too far, too hard or tries to do things that are well beyond their ability at the time. I feel like this is a potential with any form of exercise. It all carries risks. My husband chose Crossfit because of the structure, accountability and support the community provides, but he doesn't overdo It.

[MJC2118, APRN]

Also, I must add, that crossfit has an "on ramp" program for newbies that specifically aims to teach the moves, modifications for moves and proper body mechanics, etc

[offlabel]

A cross-fitter walked into a bar...How do I know? He told me.

[JessiJam]

Like everything in life, moderation is the key to success and longevity.

CrossFit is a positive but extreme nonetheless. IMO, the long-term implications of this high-impact training amongst average Joe's (and Jane's) has yet to be seen.

[blondenurse12, MSN, NP]

I am a very avid female lifter. I am very aware that when lifting heavily, form must be perfect or you risk serious injury. CrossFit folk (in general) seem to throw caution to the wind in order to look cool and whatever they think they are. It's really dangerous imo.

[GoodNP]

Cult-like indeed. They usually do recommend dietary improvements as well, typically Paleo. Macros aside, eliminating processed foods is good advice. Since nearly all of my patients are obese or morbidly obese, I don't ever discourage any attempts at better health. Besides, it is usually short lived lol...

[rac1, ASN, BSN, RN]

I've seen a lot of patients in Urgent Care with injuries from CrossFit. There's not a lot of instruction or support in the CrossFit "boxes", and it's too competitive. I think it is a bit of a cultish mindset. There are better and safer ways to work out. I think it's ok for someone who is already very fit and knows good body mechanics. I don't think it's a particularly safe way to get in shape for most people.

I wouldn't do it myself. I already have issues from overtraining and improper training in gymnastics years ago as a teen. Two of my son's friends are degreed, professional athletic trainers who work with college and professional athletes. They don't feel CrossFit is safe for the average person.

Hi. I am a nursing student still. I am an avid researcher - have been addicted to information for most of my life. I am a Crossfitter, and have been for the past 4 years. My husband is in the Army, and he is also in school getting his PhD. He is also a certified Crossfit coach at our gym. We like information!

That being said, there is a ton of misinformation among st people about everything related to Crossfit. Our gym owner is a Doctor of Physical Therapy. The majority of Crossfit gyms are extremely friendly to the "lay person." They want to coach people to good health. They love fitness - and they also want their members to be safe.

I have only belonged to two different gyms. My coaches have all been very good, safe coaches. I imagine poor ones are out there (but you can find that in a globogym too).

Personally, I think the Paleo typical diets that Crossfit gyms promote is healthier than what the random globogym trainer will purport to its members. It's a diet I would rather recommend, as a nurse and health advocate.

We have several medical doctors as members of our gym. We have two other nurses. Several DPT's (and a few students). We have had fire fighters and EMT's.

In my four years have there been injuries? I have never seen an injury happen where it has limited someone from coming on a regular basis. One week we all ran sprints during the workout and we were ALL complaining about pulled hamstrings. Was it an injury? Not really - but should we have been instructed to warm up better? Yes, probably.

Crossfit coaches encourage individual programming. We all lift our own weights, run at our own speed, and scale to our own needs. Anyone can hurt themselves at any time, at any gym.

At some point, you have to stop blaming someone else for everything that happens in life.

In my four years I have never met anyone that said "Crossfit injured me and now I can't work out."

I think it is a really good functional fitness.

[rac1, ASN, BSN, RN]

I am a very avid female lifter. I am very aware that when lifting heavily, form must be perfect or you risk serious injury. CrossFit folk (in general) seem to throw caution to the wind in order to look cool and whatever they think they are. It's really dangerous imo.

I have been doing Crossfit for 4 years and I have never once attempted "to look cool." I think this is a huge stereotype and honestly it's offensive as well as small-minded.

Crossfit is about maximizing range of motion while also maximizing effort across the range of motion. Functional movements allow everyone to maintain their ADLs through the lifespan. When you go to the store and buy a bag of cat food and get to your doorstep and put it down to get your keys out, unlock your door, then reach down to pick up your cat food: that's called a deadlift. The difference between people who do crossfit and people who don't is that they care about picking up their cat food with good form. It's functional movement. That is all we do. We don't do tricep curls. We don't do bicep curls. We don't do butterflies. We don't do shrugs in front of a mirror. Because those movements are only done to change your physique. There is nothing functional about doing a bicep curl. When do you pick up a bag of cat food like a bicep curl? Or anything else? No function to it. So to say that Crossfitters do everything to 'Look cool'..??? Not true in any way, shape or form.

Nonfunctional movements are used by bodybuilders/sculpting. To make themselves look good. Not to improve their ability to perform any real life activity. They want to make every single muscle look good - that is what matters.

Crossfit is about maintaining functional ability for as long as possible to live a healthy life.

What it seems like to me is that people that do not really know anything about crossfit like to share a really uninformed opinion about crossfit. You hear something here and there, from other uninformed people, and then share that just to have an opinion.

It really is okay to say "I don't know, I don't know anything about it." It would sound more intelligent and it would be more honest. Simply saying that people who Crossfit "seem to throw caution to the wind..." and "it's really dangerous..." without backing up WHY exactly you think that with any factual information really is just an uninformed opinion.

This is akin to medical professionals saying how "dangerous that keto diet is" because they don't know that a state of ketosis is different than diabetic ketoacidosis.

Sorry (but no not really) to rant - stepping off soapbox.....for now.

[Dranger]

Most crossfitters I have met are noobs when it comes to working out, they jumped into it because it was trendy. Thus the injuries...

[BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP]

I've had some experienced crossfitters in the clinic with real injuries, not strains. Mostly neck and back, and some have not been able to return to their previous workouts. Every gym or workout routine runs the risk for injuries, but I have seen more from those doing Crossfit. If it works for you, great, but I still would not be quick to recommend it. See a nutritionist or medical provider for dietary advice. Paleo and keto don't work for everyone.

And geez, what is with the constant need of people who do Crossfit to talk about it ad nauseum?