Parallels between Artistic Gymnastics and CrossFit®: epidemiological, clinical, and biomechanical analysis of injuries in these modalities
Review - e255654 - Published 2026, Jan 26
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33233/rbfex.v25i1.5654Keywords:
exercise , injuries , joints , weight lifting , gymnasticsAbstract
CrossFit® is one of the most widely practiced forms of physical conditioning worldwide, incorporating elements of Olympic weightlifting and artistic gymnastics (AG). Although its popularity has been accompanied by concerns about safety, recent epidemiological evidence indicates that injury rates in CrossFit® are comparable to those in other traditional sports and resistance training. However, simply quantifying the incidence is not sufficient to understand the etiological mechanisms of injuries associated with the practice. This narrative review proposes an integrated analysis of the epidemiological, clinical, and biomechanical convergences between CrossFit® and Artistic Gymnastics, recognizing the latter as a reference model for understanding the injuries observed in CrossFit® practitioners. There is a predominance of injuries to the shoulder, lumbar spine, and lower limbs in both modalities, attributed to the combination of complex gymnastic movements, high joint demands, and neuromuscular fatigue induced by concurrent training. In CrossFit®, movements traditionally restricted to experienced gymnasts are performed by recreational practitioners under conditions of high volume and/or intensity in the challenges characteristic of the sport, favoring the deterioration of motor control and increasing the risk of tissue overload. The review emphasizes that injury prevention should prioritize adequate load management, careful technical progression inspired by established practices in artistic gymnastics. Thus, CrossFit® is not inherently more harmful, but it requires rigorous application of biomechanical and physiological principles to ensure safety and longevity in the sport.
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Copyright (c) 2026 José Carlos Aragão-Santos, Juan Ramón Heredia- Elvar, Marzo Edir Da Silva-Grigoletto
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