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FEATUREFriday 1 April 2016
High-intensity workout injuries spawn cottage industry
KELLI KENNEDY In this March 17, 2016 photo, stretching techniques are demonstrated in at Stretch Zone in Boca CrossFit is known for var-
Associated Press Raton, Fla. Some chiropractors and trainers say they’re treating more injured clients as the high ied workouts that include
MIAMI (AP) — After a few intensity interval training and hybrid-workout movement has exploded. Most CrossFit and similar gymnastics-style moves
weeks of working out at high intensity workouts are not meant for average gym-goers, said Jorden Gold, who founded like handstands and pull-
CrossFit, Charles Banfield Stretch Zone. During the 30-minute sessions, therapists use bolsters and belts to stretch clients on ups, weightlifting, burpees,
says his back hurt con- a table from angles that are nearly impossible to stretch on one’s own. running and jumping onto
stantly and his joints felt platforms, performed at
terrible. The 47-year-old’s Associated Press relatively high intensity.
aches and pains were so “There’s this view in the fit-
bad, he initially blamed his at delivering lower-impact In this March 17, 2016 photo, Stretch Zone practitioner Morrida ness industry that they treat
bed and purchased a new exercise or to help those Chhan, left, demonstrates stretching techniques on front desk safety as the golden calf,
mattress. recovering from injuries to manager Priya Rajkumar, as Jorden Gold, second from left, that the most important
After feeling a searing continue breaking a sweat founder and CSO of Stretch Zone, works on Neill Broome, right, variable in training is safety
pain during a particularly but without exacerbating vice president of operations for the company, in Boca Raton, and that’s just honestly not
grueling exercise, the Los their problems. Fla. true. CrossFit is relatively
Angeles-based CEO of an Many people who do the safe and is as safe as any-
event planning company high-intensity workouts Associated Press thing else you could be do-
learned he’d torn his Achil- aren’t adequately con- ing,” he said.
les tendon. ditioned for such rigorous Although strength training
“You miss one step and workouts, or have back while injured may seem
you could really hurt your- and spine conditions that counterintuitive, experts
self,” Banfield said. could worsen, said Marc say it’s the best way to
Though there have not Umlas, chief of orthope- heal. “Stretching can be
yet been in-depth stud- dic surgery at Mount Sinai complementary to a rehab
ies, some chiropractors, Medical Center in Miami, program, but the focus is
doctors and trainers say who said his office has usually on the strengthen-
stories like Banfield’s have seen an increase in injuries ing. Often what we’re try-
become more frequent from workouts at CrossFit ing to do is create a bal-
with the increasing popu- and similar programs. ance between strength
larity of high-intensity inter- “They plunge headfirst into and flexibility,” said Dr. Kelly
val training espoused by McInnis, a sports medicine
CrossFit and other similar physiatrist at Massachu-
hybrid workout gyms. setts General Hospital who
Such workouts include is a consultant for the New
high-impact moves like England Patriots and the
jumping onto platforms Boston Red Sox.
and are performed during Most CrossFit and similar
a shorter period of time, high intensity workouts
often without a break to are not meant for aver-
maximize benefits, but age gym-goers, said Jor-
some experts say they den Gold, who founded
strain participants’ bod- Stretch Zone, which has
ies beyond what they’re 33 locations in Florida and
meant to endure as they three other states. Dur-
sling sledgehammers over ing the 30-minute sessions,
their shoulders and perfect therapists use bolsters and
headstand pushups. belts to stretch clients on a
The notion that people are table from angles that are
overdoing it has spawned nearly impossible to stretch
an offshoot industry aimed on one’s own. Unlike mas-
sage, clients are clothed
In this March 17, 2016 photo, Jorden Gold, right, founder and a high intensity workout mon. and are stretched in a
CSO of Stretch Zone, demonstrates stretching techniques on and they get injured,” Um- “I’ve got a guy in here room with several others.
Neill Broome, vice president of operations for the company in las said. who needs his shoulder re- “The majority have no busi-
Boca Raton, Fla. Torn tendons and liga- paired, a girl who keeps ness being there in the first
ments are a common re- throwing her back out re- place. ... It’s Olympic train-
Associated Press sult, he added. peatedly. It’s always some- ing,” said Gold. “It’s prob-
“Every CrossFit athlete that thing with them,” he said. ably only (suitable for) a
I see as patients, they have A spokesman for CrossFit very, very small percent
something going on as a says its likely more doctors that go.”
result of being in CrossFit,” are seeing injured CrossFit- Los Angeles-based trainer
said Dr. Tyler Kallenbach, ters but only because so Lauren Roxburgh has cre-
a Los Angeles-based chi- many people are doing ated an entire workout
ropractor who noted knee CrossFit — not because it’s around the foam roller,
and shoulder injuries like a more dangerous work- a narrow tube often rel-
torn rotator cuffs are com- out. The brand has over egated to post-workout
mon. He estimated 60 per- 13,000 locations worldwide. stretching, which she says
cent of his patients at one A training program that’s can smooth out connec-
point were seeking treat- completely safe would tive tissue, stimulate the
ment from CrossFit work- be ineffective, company lymphatic system and de-
outs, where Kallenbach spokesman Russell Berger liver highly effective core
says overtraining is com- said. strengthening.
