Fisioterapia e Pesquisa (Dec 2024)

Prevalence of low back pain among CrossFit participants: a cross-sectional study

  • Karina Ayumi Martins Utida,
  • Tamires Cibeli Biberg e Silva,
  • Kallebe Caires de Lima,
  • Aleff Ary Tozzo,
  • Rafaela Oliveira Cortes,
  • Silvio Assis de Oliveira-Júnior

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-2950/e23001724en
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 31

Abstract

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ABSTRACT CrossFit is a physical conditioning modality characterized by various movement patterns, activities, and energy systems. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of occasional low back pain in the 12 months prior the study and during the lifetime of Brazilian practitioners of CrossFit. This is a cross-sectional study designed to reach the largest possible number of participants. To achieve this, an electronic questionnaire was created using an online platform (Google Forms). The invitation to participate in the research was distributed to Brazilian practitioners via Facebook and Instagram platforms. Data were collected on prevalence of low back pain at three time points: current (occasional prevalence), in the past year, and at any moment in life (lifetime prevalence). Of the 309 participants included, 90.3% (n=279) reported low back pain at some point in their lives, whereas, 75.1% (n=232) reported at least one episode of low back pain in the last 12 months, and 15.5% (n=48) reported having low back pain while answering the questionnaire. Although low back pain was frequent among CrossFit practitioners it was generally occasional episodes, of moderate intensity and not severe enough to limit the participants’ usual activities or routine.

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