EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF CROSSFIT PRACTITIONERS IN GREECE

K. Vassis^1,2, I. Misiris³, N. Kourkoulis⁴, A.S. Siouras⁵, G. Meletiou⁶, A.-M. Iliopoulou³, I.A. Poulis²

Background: CrossFit (CF) is one of the most popular and rapidly growing exercise regimens in Greece, as is worldwide, and has gained widespread attention among physically active populations of all ages and fitness levels in the last twenty years. Its philosophy containing exercises in high intensity with limited or no recovery time between sets have shown to be associated with rapid muscular fatigue, which may result in loss of concentration and skill, and thus may increase the risk of potential musculoskeletal injuries. To date, there have been no epidemiological studies about CF in Greek athletic population.

Purpose: To investigate the epidemiological profile, sports history, training routine, and presence of injuries among CF participants in Greece. Secondly, to identify the most common musculoskeletal injuries and injury locations endured during CF training among athletes at different levels of expertise.

Methods: The study carried out by an electronic, anonymous, self-administered questionnaire using a Google-based form in Greek language in a convenience sample of CF athletes who practiced in boxes with at least Level 1 certified trainers. Data were collected from April 2020 to June 2020. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25.0. Quantitative variables were described as means with the standard deviations; qualitative variables as percentages reporting 95% confidence intervals.

Results: The sample included 1224 CrossFit practitioners aged 18 to 59 [443 (36%) females and 781 (64%) males]. Their training level before started CF was 17% (216) low; 49% (598) medium; 34% (410) high. A total of 48.5% of the individuals have been practicing CF for more than 2 years while 11.7% and 11.5% have been practicing for a period of 6 months to 1 year and 1.5 years to 2 years respectively. The highest percentage of the participants (34%) practiced 5 days per week, for 60 minutes (42.2%) and had 2 days per week rest (41.7%). Overall, 273 individuals (23%) participated in CF competitions and 948 (77%) did not. In terms of injuries, shoulders (56.6%; n= 303), knee (31.8% n=170) and lumbar spine (33.1% n=177) were the most injured locations. The most common injuries were tendinopathies (49.3%) followed by muscle injuries (43.4%) and joint injuries (26.7%).

Conclusion(s): As the number of athletes gradually increases, the absolute number of injuries will consequently increase. Sport scientists should be familiar with this new type of exercise so that they can properly advise and treat their patients. Further studies are needed to expand the knowledge of CF-related injuries and their prevention, and to provide more detailed information on the movements and exercises that are likely to cause the most injuries.

Implications: This epidemiological study of the Musculoskeletal Injuries in CrossFit practitioners enables professionals involved with this type of exercise to identify and also predict musculoskeletal injuries, in order to act preemptively against them. Knowing the population, most affected body regions and anatomical structures usually involved and providing proper supervision in the practice of the modality allows sport scientists to orient practitioners correctly and minimizing musculoskeletal injuries by determining prevention strategies.

Funding, acknowledgements: . This study does not involve any external research grant support.

Keywords: CrossFit training, Epidemiological profile, Injury Prevalence

Topic: Sport & sports injuries

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly

Committee: Research Ethics Committee of Department of Physiotherapy

Ethics number: n.1575ΣΕ2/13-4-2020