Understanding Sports Injury Risks in CrossFit : A Prospective Cohort Study on Athletic Demographics, Training Profiles, Injury History, and Psychological Factors

Improper training load management and inadequate recovery time significantly increase injury risk among CrossFit athletes, often influenced by psychological factors such as strong athletic identity, obsessive passion, perfectionistic concerns, and ineffective self-control strategies. Therefore, preventive strategies should not only focus on adjusting training loads but also on addressing the psychological dispositions that contribute to these behaviors. This study aims to explore the relationship between psychological factors-specifically passion, perfectionism, athletic identity, and self-control-and the risk of sports injuries among CrossFit athletes. Conducted as a prospective cohort study, the research involved 295 CrossFit athletes (mean age 29.5 ± 6.4 years; height 1.73 ± 0.1 m; weight 73.7 ± 13.1 kg; 44.4% women). Participants completed an online questionnaire covering demographics, training profiles, coaching status, injury histories, and psychological characteristics. Biweekly injury tracking over a 9-month period recorded the primary outcome of sports injuries, expressed as injuries per 1000 h of training. Over 9 months, 25.8% of athletes experienced injuries (totaling 94), resulting in an incidence rate of 2.04 injuries per 1000 training hours. Commonly injured areas included the shoulder (18.4%), lumbar spine (18.1%), and knee (17.4%). Our study revealed that athletes with prior injuries were 3.92 times more likely to sustain new injuries, and each additional weekly training hour increased injury risk by 35%. Conversely, higher self-control scores correlated with a 73% reduced injury risk. These findings emphasize the importance of incorporating both physical and psychological considerations in injury prevention strategies.