Health hazard during Crossfit training

Without professional guidance threaten the CrossFit serious injuries

11/11/2014

Special training based on the so-called CrossFit method can increase the physical fitness significantly, but threatened with incorrect use injuries and longer-term impairment, according to the message of the Austrian news agency „APA“ citing Professor Dr. med. Wolfgang Kemmler from the Chair of Medical Physics at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg. The expert urges caution and explains that especially beginners should practice the complex training methods only under professional guidance.

Although there are numerous videos available on the Internet with CrossFit training instructions that encourage people to work independently, Kemmler strongly advises against this. The sophisticated combination of weightlifting, self-weight exercises, sprinting and gymnastics should train equally endurance, strength, speed and coordination. However, the exercises are relatively complex and wrong execution can cause serious injury. From an independent training entry without guidance by professional trainers is therefore foreseeable.

Imminent consequential damage to the exercisers
In no case it is enough to simply imitate the exercises from the instructional videos on the internet. Professional assistance is indispensable, especially for beginners „not more than ten or twelve athletes come to a coach“, quotes the „APA“ the experts, who will give a lecture on the topic next Thursday at the University of Nürnberg-Erlangen „Effective strength training for beginners“ will hold. How important an exact guidance is to avoid consequential damages of the exercising ones, is also clear at the successful complaint of a seaman of the US Navy against his trainer. Misplaced exercises must be corrected immediately to avoid taking risks.

Independent training is not recommended
CrossFit was developed back in the 1980s by fitness coach Greg Glassman and ex-wife Lauren Glassman. The first study was opened in the mid-1990s and since then, a tremendous trend has developed around the special training method. Since the year 2000 the method is protected as a trademark and only certified trainers are allowed to offer it. However, they are free to develop new exercises and, for example, to make available as online video. These, in turn, also encourage laypersons to independently train in their own home, sometimes with fatal effects on their health. (Fp)