Reports of personal injury as a result of participating in CrossFit training proliferate in the news today. Despite CrossFit’s popularity, medical experts warn of the potential harm participants can suffer under certain conditions.
In 2008, a former U.S. Navy technician was awarded $300,000 for injuries sustained while doing CrossFit.
This lawsuit has led to questions regarding the safety of CrossFit, and many who tried the program and ended up injured are considering their own legal action.
CrossFit and Overuse Injuries
The CrossFit strengthening and conditioning program can be an effective workout method — if proper training and supervision are provided, and if exercises are not taken to an extreme.
The latter can be an issue, as some people — and some CrossFit instructors — may try to push limits further than is safe. Overtraining with any exercise can lead to overuse injuries due to the wear and tear on the body.
Common CrossFit overuse injuries include muscle strain, sore joints, tendonitis, flat-foot injuries and skeletal misalignment.
A recent Ohio State University study found that CrossFit improves fitness and body composition, but it also indicated that overuse injuries may be common with this exercise program. Out of 54 study participants, nine withdrew from testing, citing “overuse or injury” as the reason for dropping out.
Another study, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, demonstrated that 73.5 percent of CrossFit athletes have suffered an injury, and 7 percent of these injuries required surgical correction. Most involved shoulders and the spine.
Skeletal Muscle Damage and the Risk for Kidney Failure
As troubling as CrossFit overuse injuries can be, they aren’t the only reason for filing a personal injury claim.
In some cases, these workouts can cause much more severe damage to the skeletal muscle, a condition called rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis sometimes goes unnoticed for some time, as the initial symptoms include muscle weakness and muscle aches — both of which are quite familiar and ordinary to those accustomed to high-intensity workouts.
When rhabdomyolysis occurs, a protein called myoglobin leaks into the bloodstream. Myoglobin is toxic to the kidneys and can impair their filtration system, leading to kidney failure.
Rhabdomyolysis may certainly be considered as the basis for a personal injury claim.
Liability Waivers and Lawsuits
Most gyms require that members sign a liability waiver form before joining, releasing them from any responsibility for injuries that occur.
If you are injured and you signed one of these forms, it may be difficult to pursue a lawsuit — but not impossible. The liability waiver may be challenged in a personal injury claim, particularly in the event of reckless or intentional conduct.
Depending upon the circumstances of your injury, you may be able to file a claim against the gym where you did CrossFit as well as the employee who supervised your workout.
One of the most commonly cited issues is trainers who lack appropriate certifications. Common mantras of this exercise program encourage participants to ignore or work through pain, something medical experts warn against.
In Boise, contact the Montgomery Dowdle Law Offices if you have suffered an athletic or workout-related injury of any kind. If negligence can be proven, you may have a valid claim for compensation. Contact our experienced legal team today for assistance with any personal injury claim.