Musculoskeletal Injuries in Competitive CrossFit Athletes

Purim, Kátia Sheylla Malta; Zilli, Adriana; Leite, Gabriela Fernandes de Almeida; Susuki, Gustavo Keiti; Hapner, Lucas Maria S.; Zangari, Matheus Antonio C.

doi:10.1055/s-0042-1748940

home Sumário navigate_before Anterior Atual Seguinte navigate_next

home Sumário

Original Article • Rev bras ortop 59 (6) • 2024 • https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1748940 linkcopy

Musculoskeletal Injuries in Competitive CrossFit Athletes

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Objective To identify the most frequent musculoskeletal injuries in CrossFit athletes who participated in a competition in 2017.

Methods A cross-sectional study conducted through the application of a questionnaire to adult competitors of both genders who participated in a competition in 2017.

Results Among the participants, 44% reported previous injuries, 67.3% of whom were men. The main types of lesions were inflammations, sprains and contusions. The most affected anatomic sites were the shoulder, spine and knee. Among the injured, 34.4% had a previous lesion at the site; 75.8% were undergoing follow-up with healthcare professionals; and all of them practiced CrossFit 5 times a week with a mean duration of the training sessions 68.2 ± 12.4 minutes and mean rest of 1.7 days a week. The duration of the training sessions was the most significant factor (p = 0.002) for the occurrence of injuries.

Conclusion The percentage of athletes injured due to the practice of CrossFit was of 44%, with a higher incidence among men. The main type of injury was inflammation, and the most exposed anatomical sites were the shoulder, spine and knee.

Keywords
epidemiology; injuries; musculoskeletal system; physical exercise

	Male	Female
Gender (%/absolute number)	61.9%/214	38.1%/132
Weight (average)	81.44 kg	61.90 kg
Height (average)	1.77 meters	1.64 meters

	Male (n = 214)	Female (n = 132)
Time of practice (months)
3–6	9.8%	7.6%
7–12	20.1%	18.9%
13–18	16.4%	28%
19–24	20.6%	12.9%
> 24	33.2%	32.6%
Number of training days per week
2–3	10.8%	15.9%
4–5	52.8%	47%
6–7	36.4%	36.4%
Duration of the training sessions (minutes)
30	0.5%	0%
45	3.7%	1.5%
60	56.5%	79.5%
75	22.9%	11.4%
> 90	16.4%	7.6%
Rest days
0–1	41.6%	48.5%
2–3	57%	47%
4–5	1.4%	3%

Variable	Injury		p-value
	Yes (n = 153)	No (n = 193)
Female gender	32.7%	42.5%	0.075
Male gender	67.3%	57.5%
Practice of another sport	41.4%	36.8%	0.436
Previous injury	34.4%	0.0%	0.548
Follow-up with healthcare professionals	75.8%	75.5%	1.000
Use of dietary supplements	79.7%	79.6%	1.000
Weekly frequency of the training sessions	5.0 ± 1.1	5.0 ± 1.1	0.963
Duration of the training sessions	68.2 ± 12.4	64.5 ± 10.3	0.002
Rest days	1.7 ± 0.7	1.6 ± 0.8	0.778

	Male	Female
*Regular follow-up with healthcare professionals*	75.2%	75.8%
Healthcare professionals (yes as previous answer)*
Dietitian	75%	72.5%
Physiologist	11.3%	5%
Personal trainer	17.5%	14.9%
General practitioner	21.3%	13.9%
Physician nutrition specialist	16.9%	19.8%
Physical therapist	11.9%	5.9%
Other	13.1%	12.8%
*Use of dietary supplements*	76.2%	85.6%
Supplements (yes as previous answer)*
Whey protein	90.8%	86.7%
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)	50.3%	53.1%
Albumin	5.5%	5.3%
Casein	5.5%	5.3%
Creatin	41.1%	46.9%
Thermogenic compounds	17.8%	22.1%
Other	22.1%	18.6%
*Supplement prescription by healthcare professional*	*76.1%*	*77.9%*
Which healthcare professional?*
Dietitian	50.3%	61.1%
Physician, except physician nutrition specialist	6.1%	3.5%
Physician nutrition specialist	10.4%	8%
Personal trainer	1.2%	0%
Other	0.6%	0%

vertical_align_top show_chart

more_horiz close
- image
- translate
- link
- article
- vertical_align_top
- file_download
- show_chart
- image
- translate
- link
- article

location_on

Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Al. Lorena, 427 14º andar, 01424-000 São Paulo - SP - Brasil, Tel.: 55 11 2137-5400 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: rbo@sbot.org.br

rss_feed Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[TFN1] Note:

[TFN2] ^*
More than one alternative could be selected.

CrossFit-related injury
Total	153/346
Injuries per age group
18–29 years	46.8%
30–40 years	40.5%
41–50 years	35.4%
Injuries per gender	Male	Female
	48.1%	37.9%
Type of CrossFit-related injury*
Fracture	7.8%	6%
Contusion	19.4%	12%
Sprain	22.3%	18%
Inflammation	68.9%	78%
Dislocation	9.7%	2%
Rupture	5.8%	4%
Other	1.9%	0%
Postlesion management*
Seeking medical assistance	70.9%	72%
Changes in training (duration, intensity, or characteristics for more than 2 weeks)	47.6%	50%
Stopping CrossFit or any other activity for more than a week	14.6%	6%
None of the above	3.9%	4%
Other	0%	2%
Number of CrossFit-related injuries
1	56.3%	56%
2	29.1%	34%
3	5.8%	8%
> 3	6.8%	2%
Injured body part*
Shoulder	56.3%	48%
Spine	25.2%	26%
Knee	19.4%	32%
Wrist	15.5%	12%
Elbow	4.9%	6%
Abdomen	3.9%	0%
Neck	2.9%	6%
Leg	2.9%	2%
Ankle	2.9%	2%
Thorax	2.9%	0%
Calf	1.9%	8%
Pelvis	1.9%	2%
Thigh	1.9%	0%
Foot	1%	0%
Hand	0%%	2%
Hip	0%%	2%
Other	2.9%	4%
Existence of a previous lesion at the same injured site	35%	30%