An Analysis of Sport-Specific Pain Symptoms through Inter-Individual Training Differences in CrossFit

Shoulder pathologies in CrossFit: a magnetic resonance imaging study of 51 cases

BACKGROUND

Recent scientific work shows that the most common injuries in CrossFit© occur in the shoulder joint. This paper aims to provide a review of shoulder pathologies in a young CrossFit© cohort via MRI and clinical examination.

METHODS

A survey was conducted in 13 CrossFit "boxes" in Germany, in which athletes with recurrent shoulder pain could report for a clinical examination and MRI diagnostic. Fifty-one CrossFit athletes with chronic shoulder pain agreed to participate in the study and were then examined physically and by MRI.

RESULTS

Fifty-one active CrossFit athletes aged 21-45 years (mean 33.7 years, 35 male and 16 female) were recruited. The most frequently detected pathologies were partial lesions of the supraspinatus tendon (N.=25; 49%) and labral lesions (N.=11; 21.6%). The findings also identified partial lesions of the subscapularis tendon (N.=9; 17.6%), pulley lesions (N.=9; 17.6%), and partial lesions of the infraspinatus muscle (N.=2; 3.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate the need for a specific focus on particular shoulder injuries in CrossFit. Knowledge about the type of shoulder pathologies caused by CrossFit training allows for training-specific adaptations with regard to prevention, as well as a more targeted, sport-specific therapy. This study is the first in the literature to present on structural changes in the shoulders of active CrossFit athletes.

Popular Gym Fitness Sport: An Analysis of 1387 Recreational Athletes Regarding Prone to Pain Exercises and the Corresponding Localisations

BACKGROUND

Recreational fitness sports are popular worldwide and rank first among organised sports. This study aims to bridge a knowledge gap by examining which exercises are most prone to causing pain symptoms, as a possible precursor for injury, and analysing the body regions that are most frequently affected.

METHODS

Using an online questionnaire, 20 demographic and training-specific items and 49 sport-specific exercises were recorded. Frequent exercises as well as the incidence and distribution of pain symptoms that the athletes experienced during or in relation to their training were evaluated.

RESULTS

The study assessed common exercises and documented the frequency and distribution of pain symptoms experienced by athletes during or in relation to their training. A total of 1387 respondents were included in this study. Of these, 732 (53.1%) experienced pain during their fitness training, with 333 (24.2%) being female and 397 (22.3%) being male. The method of creating a training plan showed a significant influence (p < 0.001): athletes who devised their own plans reported pain or instability more frequently than those in the comparison groups. Guided exercises on machines resulted in the lowest frequency of pain (11.54%), while exercises with free weights were associated with the highest pain rate among respondents (19.94%). Specifically, exercises such as the back squat, deadlift, bench press, and triceps dips were identified as the exercises most commonly associated with pain. The most frequently reported pain region was the shoulder, followed by the lower back and knees.

CONCLUSION

The findings reveal a significant number of unreported pain symptoms. The disparity between rigorous training volumes and the absence of professional care frequently leads to injuries and pain. It is incumbent upon sports medicine to investigate the root causes of these complaints (pain or instability) to implement preventive measures against potential injuries.

Spinal Muscle Thickness and Activation during Abdominal Hollowing and Bracing in CrossFit® Athletes

Exercises that improve muscle activation are essential for maintaining spinal stability and preventing low back pain. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of abdominal hollowing and bracing on the activation of the core muscles in CrossFit® participants using ultrasound and electromyography (EMG). Twenty-four healthy adults aged 21 to 42 years old with at least two years of CrossFit® experience performed three core stability exercises (plank, side plank, bridge) with abdominal hollowing and bracing. We measured the ultrasound relative thickness of the local core muscles (transversus abdominis, internal oblique, and lumbar multifidus), and the EMG percentage of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the global core muscles (rectus abdominis, external oblique, and iliocostalis lumborum). Analysis of variance tests showed that the relative thickness of the local core muscles was greater (p = 0.016) during hollowing (range from 26.8 ± 5.33 to 88.4 ± 11.9% of rest) than bracing (range from 15.9 ± 3.54 to 61.2 ± 15.9% of rest), while the EMG of the global muscles was greater (p = 0.001) in bracing (range from 24.4 ± 7.30 to 72.5 ± 9.17% of MVC) than hollowing (range from 16.4 ± 3.70 to 56.6 ± 7.65% of MVC). These results indicate that the recruitment of spinal muscles during popular exercises is achieved with both hollowing and bracing. Nevertheless, it appears that hollowing tends to recruit more of the local muscles, whilst bracing recruits more of the global muscles. The grading of the exercises varied between muscles and varied between maneuvers, especially for the surface abdominals and lumbar muscles. CrossFit® practitioners can choose to use either hollowing or bracing to activate their core muscles more selectively or more appropriately, depending on the goal and purpose of the exercise.