There’s exercise and then there’s CrossFit. Both get you in shape, but the latter is more akin to high-intensity training like you experience if you’re training to be an Olympic athlete.
There’s no denying the enthusiasm for the intense level of fitness offered by CrossFit. It’s a strength-and-conditioning exercise system that consists of a medley of exercises such as power lifting, aerobics, pushups, pull-ups, and something to the effect of lifting large tractor tires using your body or hitting them with a sledgehammer over and over again.
Some will say that it resembles cross training, except CrossFit is also a registered trademark founded by Santa Cruz’s Gregg Glassman and Lauren Jenai in 2000.
The phenomenon quickly spread. According to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review there are now more than 13,000 CrossFit-affiliated gyms in the world, and ESPN even broadcasts the annual CrossFit games.
It’s sometimes characterized as having a cultish, boot camp-like feel to it with intense encouragement (or peer pressure, depending on how you perceive it), and people seem to love it. CrossFit’s been hailed as a good all-around workout that gets you in shape quickly. But despite the obvious benefits that result from a grueling workout regimen, they can come at a cost.
There is a condition known as rhabdomyolysis, also called rhabdo, and it’s characterized by rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle. According to WebMD, the breakdown of the muscles release a protein called myoglobin, which can cause kidney failure. It’s a rare condition, but a serious one.
Symptoms range from extreme muscle pain and soreness, to difficulty moving or weakness in the affected muscles, and—most telling of all—dark brown, usually tea- or cola-colored urine.
When dealing with the aftermath of an intense workout like CrossFit, it’s difficult to tell whether the post-workout soreness is the build-up of lactic acid or you’re really experiencing rhabdo.
When you get brown colored pee, why take your chances? When it gets to this point, the general consensus is that you should take a break from tire smashing and see a doctor. According to WebMD, you may need an IV or some minor surgery, but the good news is that most causes of rhabdo are reversible.
It’s not just rhabdo one should be concerned about. Physical injuries can result from regular training.
According to a study by the National Institutes of Health published in November 2013, more than 73 percent of the CrossFitters interviewed said they injured themselves during a workout. It’s perhaps the first study conducted to analyze CrossFit injury rates.
But CrossFit isn’t solely responsible for physical injuries; that’s possible with any intense workout in general, according to the study.
“Injury rates with CrossFit training are similar to that reported in the literature for sports such as Olympic weight-lifting, power-lifting, and gymnastics,” according to the study, which also included “lower than competitive contact sports such as rugby.”
What’s the lesson here? Stay in shape, but don’t kill yourself.
Staff Writer David Minsky can be reached at dminsky@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jan 28 – Feb 4, 2016.