Reporter J.R. Duren interviewed a Portland-based physical therapist, a personal trainer with Jillian Michaels’s Fit Fusion program, a world champion powerlifter and a CrossFit enthusiast from Florida about the inherent dangers of CrossFit workouts. Though they come at it from different perspectives, they all agree on the following precautions a newbie should take before diving in:

 

• Perfect the proper form

  • Physical exhaustion in a high-speed, competitive environment is a recipe for poor form and subsequent injury; master the techniques for all the foundational movements before you do your first CrossFit workout.

 

• Consult with your doctor to see if your body can take it

  • Schedule a physical to rule out any risky preexisting medical conditions, such as a heart condition, bone or joint problem, or hypertension.

 

• Stop when you feel pain

  • Any pain other than delayed onset muscular soreness (DOMS) is your body’s way of telling you it’s time to take a break.

 

• Leave your ego at the door

  • Pride can make you do dumb things, like trying to beat the CrossFitter next to you who has been at it for years.

 

• Get in shape to get in shape

  • If new to exercising, spend six months to a year doing traditional strength training and cardio fitness to prepare for the of rigors of CrossFit workout.

 

Read the full article here.