A recent article in the CrossFit Journal shined the spotlight on how CrossFit isn’t just for exercise junkies looking to stay fit with the newest craze. The article focused on how manual laborers are getting into CrossFit in order to fight back against the damage decades of physical labor has had on their bodies. We want to take a closer look at the article and the expanding role of CrossFit in a therapy plan in today’s blog.
CrossFit For Physical Therapy
The main focus of the story is Todd, who has worked for 40 years in the HVAC trade. As a result of his years of manual labor, Todd has undergone three knee surgeries, one shoulder surgery, and takes numerous medications to account for bone loss, chronic pain and other health conditions. At one point, Todd was on 15 different medications, including Tramadol which he took three times a day.
It was at that point that Todd decided he needed to make some changes. He began working with CrossFit coaches at Pipe Trades Services Minnesota Family Health & Wellness Center. Eventually, Todd connected with a colleague of mine – Max Lipset – who owns Side Door CrossFit in St. Paul. Max explained how about a dozen of his CrossFit trainers work with roughly 5,000 pipe fitters and plumbers plus their families at three of the large wellness centers across the area.
“We provide that entire training service to the pipe trades population with the goal of trying to shift the entire health and wellness of the population forward,” Lipset said. “We’re working on preventing injuries but also creating a healthier population of pipe fitters through CrossFit and health coaching.”
For Todd, the results have been incredible. Over the last two years, he’s been able to cut his medications down from 15 to 11, and he’s taking Tramadol once a week at most, instead of three times a day. Another tradesman, Bob Graske, has lost 50 pounds, eliminated prescription medications and been able to delay knee surgery as a result of his work with the CrossFit team.
“I had high blood pressure, I had frequent heartburn, and all of that has been resolved. I’ve eliminated the medications,” said Graske. “I honestly tell people I feel like I’m in my 20s, although my joints tell me different. My blood pressure is what it was when I was 20.”
It wouldn’t be surprising to see CrossFit-based programs continue to shift towards a rehabilitation structure in the near future. Bodies will continue to break down, and more Americans are becoming fed up with the current healthcare system, which can involve long waits and headaches with insurance. With more rehab options like CrossFit available, people will be able to better actively manage their health, instead of relaying on opioids and pain medications. As we’ve already seen, it has led to proven results!
If you have questions about starting a CrossFit plan to help treat a certain health condition, reach out to Dr. Silverman or read more about CrossFit by checking out this article Max wrote for our blog in the past.