Dr. Hawley’s Health Corner
Should I / Can I CrossFit?
First and foremost I just want to say congratulations to the members of the Southington CrossFit Regional Team – it was great to watch all of you compete and go all out for each workout. You made all the members proud to be part of Southington CrossFit! Great job!!!
This week I am going to take a little detour from my book review and jump on my CrossFit/Exercise soap box for a little bit. Of course when I say jump I mean step up gingerly because we all know how much I love jumping on a box!!
I have been asked a particular question over and over again and figured I would give all of you my answer because I am sure you have been asked the same one: Isn’t CrossFit dangerous – Don’t a lot of people get hurt? This is a question that I get asked by numerous people on a weekly basis. These questions have increased over the past year since I began CrossFitting myself and I must admit that my answer has changed since starting.
If you would have asked me that question a year or more ago I may have said Yes! and told people that it is only for those looking to partake in intense training and are injury free. I may have also said that it is not for the older population because of the high risk of injuries associated with that type of exercise. I would be the first to admit that this answer was not really based on personal experience but more of the perception of CrossFit. My answer was wrong and has since changed!
You would be surprised how many funny looks I get from my patients when I tell them I CrossFit (this is also true of other healthcare professionals when they see a patient of theirs who wants to CrossFit). Many of them look at me and ask the above “question”. This gives me a chance to fully educate them on what exactly we do and how it is beneficial.
Being active in life requires you to perform about 4 basic functions:
1. Picking things up from the floor (deadlift)
2. Placing objects over head (strict/push press)
3. Squatting down (front squat/back squat)
4. Pulling yourself up (pull-ups/ring rows)
Without being able to perform these daily activities you will not be able to fully live your life and believe it or not, you will be more prone to injuries. CrossFit is one of the only exercise routine that makes you perform functional movements on a regular basis. So when I hear people tell me that it is too dangerous I ask them if it is dangerous when they bend over to pick up their children or if it is danger for them to put that suitcase over their head on the airplane. Those movements are exactly what we are training in the gym!
Are their injuries in CrossFit? – of course – but I would challenge anyone to show me that there are more injuries in this kind of working out versus your weekend warrior who spends time at the YMCA or Planet Fitness. Injuries are an unfortunate part of working out but with our coaching staff many can be avoided when you focus on what they are telling you and don’t go above and beyond what your capability.
When done correctly CrossFit can provide immense benefits not only to your fitness level but also improving your activities of daily living. CrossFit can be great for all ages and all walks of life – start slow and gradually build on the week before and you will not only get more fit but also become less injury prone. The next time you are asked this question I hope that you now have a better answer.
I will now step gingerly off my soap box!! Have a great week!
