By Anushca Van Aswegen, Physio @ MOVE
CrossFit is an amazing sport.
I have been doing CrossFit since 2017 and is the longest I have ever persevered in a sport. Previously I have done a multitude of other sport, including netball, track, trail running and mountain biking. Even though I was active, I still struggled with permanent back problems and would have unrelenting pain for months on end. In my early twenties I was also under nourished and over trained. My doctor and physio advised that I add strength training to my training program. Since I had family that was already doing CrossFit I decided to joint them twice a week. I soon fell in love with the diversity of the sport. Pretty soon all my aches and pains subsided as I was getting stronger. Since end of 2017, until this day, I haven’t had a need to visit any medical practitioner with regards to any back problems. CrossFit also improved my trail running times as well even though I was running less.
Since CrossFit uses multiple modalities including gymnastics and Olympic and power lifting it can be a dangerous sport if coaching is insufficient or an athlete does not abide by progressions as advised. Injury prevention is a big part of the program as this forms the foundation for the more demanding loads and movements to come.
Hence it is important to do research on your local CrossFit Box, who the coaches are, what experience they have and what their qualifications are before joining. It is extremely important to complete a foundation level of training in which complicated weightlifting techniques and the basics of gymnastics are taught before progressing in weight and complexity. Since CrossFit has so many aspects to it, progression might feel slow but it is as much an athlete’s responsibility to follow natural progression as it is a coach’s to advise on progressions and scaling options.
Like in all sport it is important to listen to your body:
- Take rest days as needed
- Fuel your body with good, natural foods
- Work on any weakness as advised by your coach
Over all CrossFit improves fitness, strength, mobility, body awareness and functionality. CrossFit is adaptable in all movements to suite all different skill levels, accommodate weakness, injuries, as well as different age groups. CrossFit has also embraced the physically disabled community by offering multiple adaptable skills tailored to every athlete’s individual needs.
As an athlete and as a Physio I stand by this well rounded sport sport that has empowered and strengthened my body above my imagination.
