Injury, epidemiology, mental attitudes to food and diet of CrossFit athletes in Perth, Western Australia (WA)

Abstract

Introduction: CrossFit is an increasingly popular sport, yet, research into injury rates has shown considerable disparity which puts it at odds with other sports. Little up-to date analysis has been performed assessing mental health attitudes to diet in recreational athletes with the majority of studies performed in (semi-)/professional athletes. The purpose of this research was to assess the injury demographics of recreational CrossFit athletes in Perth, Western Australia as well as to analyse the attitudes to eating and diet in this population. Methods: The study was a cross sectional questionnaire study, comprising of basic demographics, injuries experienced in the last year and the EAT-26. Collection was from 29/4/19 to 27/5/19. Univariable, multi-variable modelling, ANOVA and linear regression analysis was performed analysing risk factors for injury and EAT-26 score. Results: 167 subjects responded from 8 CrossFit affiliates; 100 athletes (59.9%) reported an injury in the preceding 12 months. The most common reported cause for injuries were; ‘Improper Form’ (30.3%), ‘Weight too Heavy’ (23.2%) and ‘Fatigue’ (20.5%). Most commonly injured body parts were shoulder (29.1%), lower back (22.2%) and knee (10.8%). Significant identified risk factors (p<0.05) for injury were; Sex (OR 2.00: 95% CI 1.01 to 3.96) and hours per week performing CrossFit (OR 1.18: 95% CI 1.00 to 1.39). Every extra hour of secondary sport performed was associated with a 22% reduction in the odds of an injury (OR 0.78: 95% CI 0.65 to 0.95). The EAT-26 score was not significantly associated with any demographic. Discussion: The frequency of injured body parts in this study is consistent with the literature and as such could be formally identified as high-risk areas for injury in CrossFit. This information alongside reported causes and risk factors for injury could aid coaches in being able to identify at risk individuals and thus implement a management plan to prevent injuries from occurring. The results of this study suggest that there is not an increase in risk of suffering from pathological attitudes to eating and diet in CrossFit athletes in comparison to the average population. Within limitations, CrossFit gyms and support staff should not need to be more vigilant for eating disorders, than the average recreational sporting population. Conflict of interest statement: My co-authors and I acknowledge that we have no conflict of interest of relevance to the submission of this abstract.