CrossFit
CrossFit: Forging Elite Warriors or Creating Injured Warfighters?
Depending on who you talk to, CrossFit is either the best fitness strategy or a recipe for disaster; a foolish fad that hurts as many as it helps. As an approach to "functional fitness" it is credible, the issue is whether the risks outweigh the benefits. Conversations with elite military, law enforcement, security personnel, and sports medicine physicians will generally elicit highly charged, diametrically opposed opinions.
What is CrossFit?
CrossFit is an integrated approach to physical and mental conditioning based on the concept of functional fitness. Its underlying conceptual framework includes dietary recommendations and diverse exercise methods to assist participants in achieving a wide range of physiological adaptations across all energy systems (anaerobic and aerobic, muscular strength and endurance). The objective is to develop a physically balanced athlete. CrossFit is not sport-specific and is based on improving core strength and functional fitness. It uses Olympic weightlifting methods, kettlebells, gymnastics rings, pull-up bars, and a wide variety of calisthenics exercises. A typical workout may include running, rowing, rope climbs, jumping up on boxes, flipping tractor tires or carrying heavy operational gear, and bouncing medicine balls against the floor or wall. CrossFit advocates eating lean meats and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar at levels that support exercise but not body fat. Many CrossFit trainees follow the "Zone" or "Paleolithic" diets.
In 2006, Lt Gen James F. Amos, USMC, the 31st and current Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, described Functional fitness as "the ability to perform a broad array of natural or realistic physical work that involves all tasks associated with performance in combat." He emphasizes that operational and combat demands will vary regarding load and duration which in turn affects intensity of physical exertion, and that traditional training methods do not adequately prepare Warfighters. He further notes that functional fitness involves "multiple planes and joints" in the performance of a real life of combat task, therefore, the Marine Corp should incorporate elements of functional fitness training in their daily conditioning regimen. One approach that has followed this direction is the USMC's Combat Conditioning Program which, although not strictly based on CrossFit, adheres to the functional fitness elements of the program and is adapted "For Marines By Marines," using only that equipment that a Marine might find in the deployed setting.
Physical fitness is a very high priority for the military across all branches of service; this attitude was recently expressed by GEN Petraeus who reportedly liked to challenge new personnel assigned to his unit by "taking them out for a run," noting, "I want to know how he'll react and respond to the challenge, what his strength of character is." A January 13, 2010 New York Times article noted that "Rank doesn't matter, nor does it count if your father was a general or a sergeant major: Anyone who reports to his or her unit on Day One in poor physical condition has lost the respect of fellow soldiers."
The importance of military personnel fitness is unquestionable; the value of CrossFit is still unresolved as a method to achieve high levels of functional fitness. Devotees swear by the method while some sports medicine physicians point to the high injury rates. The issue remains unresolved; to date there is no reliable published data on CrossFit related injuries, nor comparisons to injury rates in other demanding physical sports such as running and basketball, which are the leading sources of military training injuries.
As the HPRC matures, we will engage the ability to have interactive dialogue with our communities of interest, but in the meantime, will gather your feedback and share accordingly. So whether you are a medical expert, an elite warrior, a tactical military athlete, or a Warfighter, tell us what you think about the issue by sending us your comments or questions.
