Creating Chaos - For Fitness & Sport Professionals

Is CrossFit at risk of harming?

The purpose of this blog is to simply ask questions and generate discussion, not to slate a mode of exercise. It's worth me pointing out that personally, I think the type of training that cross fit tend to prescribe is fantastic high end stuff that, for someone in great condition without injury, is ideal for high intensity days. Predominantly compound movements, Olympic lifting, kettlebells, suspension conditioning, bodyweight and a lot of 'on your feet' training. The question is more over how much of a well balanced conditioning programme should this type of training make up?

I think that before being able to answer this question, there are some key considerations to look at:

Recovery process - recovery is an individual thing and generally, the more conditioned your body is, the better able it can recover from exercise. We're all familiar with DOMS and this can be a useful indicator for how your muscles are repairing post-exercise. However, the are some more subtle recovery processes that the body must go through that are vital for repair and progress. Sympathetic and parasympathetic response to exercise aren't as apparent and overload of the nervous system can be extremely dangerous leading to chronic fatigue syndrome.  Yet initially, early symptoms can appear as temporary and deceivingly positive improvements in both performance and resting health. Read here for more about some thing you may find rather interesting.

Technique - Many of the exercises used are technique based and whenever this is involved, it can often mean that performed well is full benefit and performed badly is destructive. Technique should always be mastered prior to putting the exercise into a challenge based setting where people will be pushing themselves to the limit, often resulting in quantity prioritised over quality. Due to the sheer variety of methods used within cross fit, a lot of expertise and experience is required. In essence, an experienced strength and conditioning coach is needed at each cross fit gym yet to become a level 1 coach, only a 2 day course stands in your way. Furthermore, some of the suggested form on exercises is rather questionable - watch this kettlebell swing video for example:



Competition - Motivating a work ethic within a training session is generally a positive thing and I'm sure that you agree. However, competing to be quicker or lift heavier or beat others in every single training session is not just counter-productive, it's mentally and physically draining. Training in the very sense of the word is preparatory and should be gearing towards something or heading in a certain direction. Each session should be piped with focus but performance is only one component. Constant demand of competition can have severe long term psychological repercussions. Most high level performance athletes have sports psychologists as well as coaches, managers and team mates at their disposal. This support network is not only critical for their success but also vital in terms of managing the psychological demand of performing again and again.

Cult culture - This point isn't really aimed at Cross Fit itself but the way in which people follow it and it seems to be a common theme within fitness. Maybe a reflection of how we as people commit heavily to things when they become part of our belief system. There are some fantastic philosophies within cross fit and the way the system operates but to enjoy these, it isn't necessary to become a cross fit monk or a disciple. Whilst creating exclusivity, cults tend to become detached and intimidating from an external perspective which isn't the most welcoming from those contemplating.

So, returning my original question, is cross fit at risk of harming?