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]

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

I wonder if anyone is actually helping them/supervising the work outs, or if they are just trying to keep up with the rest of the people?

[Dranger]

I wonder if anyone is actually helping them/supervising the work outs, or if they are just trying to keep up with the rest of the people?

The trainers are poorly...well trained. Blind leading the blind. I have lifted for about 15 years in either college sports or the military and I have friends who have worked out maybe 6 months in their lives who are now "instructors"

[blondenurse12, MSN, NP]

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.

Did a touch a nerve? Obviously. To be honest, I can get behind what you're saying. Functional movements are great. If that's what CrossFit is, I can stand behind it. But just because your gym is doing it this way does not mean that is how CrossFit is being approached in most places.

I have about 5 friends who have jumped on the CrossFit bandwagon and I've checked out some of their gyms. What I have seen is downright scary. One of the gyms pushes crossfitters to PR every session. This is just stupidity. You should not be maxing a bench press or deadlift every session. On top of that, these yahoos aren't even advocating proper form. Hunched shoulders, cores that aren't taut. A lot of participants are amateur lifters and they don't know better.

CrossFit from what I've seen is all about lifting stupid heavy weights with crap form and competing in events where other people egg them on. There are so many YouTube videos of CrossFit folk injuring themselves, sometimes pretty horrifically.

[rac1, ASN, BSN, RN]

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?

As a Crossfit cult member (har har), I would agree with you. I think Crossfit is a sect of fitness. Albeit, I believe it to be a very healthy form of fitness - it is most certainly not for everyone. We have children to elderly at our gym. A good coach actually coaches. But it is always up to the individual to be safe, and know their limits.

And also, about the ad nauseum crossfit banter...? I don't knowwww. Help! Honestly, it's empowering. Anyone that goes to the gym 5+ days a week, lifts heavy weights and does hard cardio usually talks about it. It's our thing. Kind of like nurse shop talk, always sharing crazy stories? It's a club. You know you want to try it

[rac1, ASN, BSN, RN]

Did a touch a nerve? Obviously. To be honest, I can get behind what you're saying. Functional movements are great. If that's what CrossFit is, I can stand behind it. But just because your gym is doing it this way does not mean that is how CrossFit is being approached in most places.

I have about 5 friends who have jumped on the CrossFit bandwagon and I've checked out some of their gyms. What I have seen is downright scary. One of the gyms pushes crossfitters to PR every session. This is just stupidity. You should not be maxing a bench press or deadlift every session. On top of that, these yahoos aren't even advocating proper form. Hunched shoulders, cores that aren't taut. A lot of participants are amateur lifters and they don't know better.

CrossFit from what I've seen is all about lifting stupid heavy weights with crap form and competing in events where other people egg them on. There are so many YouTube videos of CrossFit folk injuring themselves, sometimes pretty horrifically.

It isn't that you touched a nerve really - I just think you spouted off a negative opinion and didn't back it up. I wanted to share my perspective.

I also want to reply to this comment and say that I would agree with these thoughts as far as - just because the two gyms I've been a member at are "safe" - it doesn't mean they all are. You are totally right. Anyone can go get Level 1 Certification - anyone that pays and passes the test - bam, certified, and you can open a gym (pay the fees, yada yada). So you're totally right.

What I would like to point out though, is that no one complains about people joining the globogym, paying the fee, and walking over to lift whatever weights they want, however they want, without a coach every glancing their way. Why is that? Because this system has been around for longer? There IS coaching at every Crossfit class. Does that mean it's safer? I suppose not necessarily, no. But it also doesn't mean that as health care providers, we should dissuade someone from being involved in Crossfit.

It is ridiculous that a coach expect and push people to PR at every session. That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Same for crap form. Not okay - totally agree.

As for your last comment "Crossfit from what I've seen is all about lifting stupid heavy weights with crap form and competing in events where other people egg them on..." I'm sorry that this is your idea of Crossfit. One of the first things every member should learn is that your first rep and your last should look exactly the same. Form is everything.

I get your point of view, but you have to admit that us telling people to go get personal training at the gym isn't any better. I would argue that it could be much worse. My sister in law was trying to lose weight and purchased a personal trainer on contract. The food plan she was on was typical. The exercise regimen similar. This is fine for some people, but it's also mediocre - but these trainers are not necessarily ANY better.

Mediocre is not going to fix obesity, diabetes, and heart disease United States.

[BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP]

As a Crossfit cult member (har har), I would agree with you. I think Crossfit is a sect of fitness. Albeit, I believe it to be a very healthy form of fitness - it is most certainly not for everyone. We have children to elderly at our gym. A good coach actually coaches. But it is always up to the individual to be safe, and know their limits.

And also, about the ad nauseum crossfit banter...? I don't knowwww. Help! Honestly, it's empowering. Anyone that goes to the gym 5+ days a week, lifts heavy weights and does hard cardio usually talks about it. It's our thing. Kind of like nurse shop talk, always sharing crazy stories? It's a club. You know you want to try it

No, it's not for me. I don't like the competitive and high pressure atmosphere. Plus I have a hip issue and cannot do high impact exercise. I am much more of a yoga/walking/non-heavy weights person. I manage to stay reasonably fit, flexible, and uninjured with that regimen. You do you, and I'll do me.

[rac1, ASN, BSN, RN]

No, it's not for me. I don't like the competitive and high pressure atmosphere. Plus I have a hip issue and cannot do high impact exercise. I am much more of a yoga/walking/non-heavy weights person. I manage to stay reasonably fit, flexible, and uninjured with that regimen. You do you, and I'll do me.

I really was kidding. =)

That being said, I am not competitive AT ALL. I don't feel pressured to finish. I scale my workouts almost every single day. I am do love the group environment for keeping me motivated. Everyone at a Crossfit gym has different goals, and motivation for being there. Of course everyone is different - some people would feel stressed out about it, and feel like they need to be competitive, etc. But I really was just playing.

[BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP]

I really was kidding. =)

That being said, I am not competitive AT ALL. I don't feel pressured to finish. I scale my workouts almost every single day. I am do love the group environment for keeping me motivated. Everyone at a Crossfit gym has different goals, and motivation for being there. Of course everyone is different - some people would feel stressed out about it, and feel like they need to be competitive, etc. But I really was just playing.

I knew you were kidding. You're a good sport.