Although CrossFit is commonly seen as a sport for the super fit, that shouldn't stop you from giving it a try. CrossFit is designed to be accessible to everyone, with scalable workouts for all ages and skills, embodying the principle that the needs of elite athletes and beginners differ only in intensity. Are, not kind. By combining strength and aerobic exercise, CrossFit could be a Effective way to improve Functional fitness, muscle strength and cardiovascular health.
But if that's not enough to persuade you, Our latest study suggests that the advantages of CrossFit for physical health could potentially reduce the necessity to use pharmaceuticals in people living with long-term conditions. It can offer a substitute for conventional medicine-based treatments for various health conditions, in addition to potentially reduce the demand for health care services.
To conduct our study, we recruited 1,211 people from the UK who did CrossFit. Participants ranged in age from 19-67 – although the vast majority of participants were within the 30-39 (38%) or 40-49 (26%) groups. Participants were asked about their health, what prescription medications they took and whether their prescriptions had modified since starting CrossFit.
Of the 1,211 participants, 280 said they took at the least one prescription drug to administer a health condition before starting CrossFit. Some of the common health conditions in query include anxiety and depression, asthma, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and chronic pain.
We found that 54% of participants who were taking prescription medication before starting CrossFit said they reduced their dosage after starting. Of this group of 151 people, 69 reported stopping their medication entirely, while the remaining 82 reported cutting their prescription dose by greater than half. This improvement occurred mainly throughout the first six months of coaching.
Younger participants, particularly those aged 20 to 29, were more likely to cut back their medication. Among this group, 43% reported cutting their prescription dose by greater than half, and 27% stopped using pharmaceuticals altogether (29% and 25%, respectively, across all age groups). competition).
We also found that 40% of all participants said they needed fewer doctor visits after starting CrossFit.
Active Stills Photography., Provided by the creator (not reused).
For individuals with long-term health problems corresponding to chronic pain, CrossFit has helped many individuals manage their symptoms. Our study found that greater than half of the participants who reported taking painkillers before starting CrossFit, especially to administer arthritis or back pain, reduced their medication. .
Some even postpone or cancel surgery due to joint or muscle problems resulting from the strength and fitness they gain after starting CrossFit. Of the 71 individuals who reported canceling or postponing surgeries, 55% said it was because their symptoms improved, while 31% actually said they not needed surgery.
Benefits of CrossFit
Although our study cannot directly prove that CrossFit caused these changes, the consequences of CrossFit on many features of health may help explain why regular exercisers modified their prescriptions. Why did you see a decrease in the usage of medicines?
First, CrossFit is unquestionably useful for physical fitness. Improvement in areas like Cardiovascular fitness And Metabolic health May help manage chronic conditions eg Type 2 diabetes And High blood pressure.
Second, because CrossFit is commonly done as a gaggle in a gym setting, it fosters a way of community, harmony, and cooperation. This A sense of community May enhance mental health and well-being. Also exercise. Releases endorphins. -Chemicals within the brain that increase pleasure and reduce pain. These two aspects may help explain why several study participants reported using less antidepressants after starting CrossFit.
Third, the undeniable fact that CrossFit's combination of strength, aerobic and functional exercises helps construct strength. Muscular strength and endurance Can reduce stress on joints and reduce pain. The high-intensity nature of CrossFit also promotes the discharge of endorphins that may Reduce the pain and increases physical flexibility, making participants feel more empowered and developed.
Also, CrossFit emphasizes movement patterns and mobility, which will help improve. Reducing flexibility and stiffness. All of those aspects may help explain why some participants with chronic pain before starting CrossFit became less depending on painkillers after six months of coaching.
However, this study has some limitations to notice. The data depend on self-reported information, which can result in biased results because participants may not accurately recall their prescription intake or could also be influenced by their feelings about CrossFit.
Additionally, the study didn't track other lifestyle changes the participants could have made, corresponding to changes in weight-reduction plan or other types of exercise. So more research is required to grasp the entire picture. Nevertheless, our findings provide promising evidence in regards to the advantages of CrossFit that will contribute to reducing the pressure on health care services.