Background: CrossFit is an increasingly popular, rapidly growing exercise regimen. Few studies have evaluated CrossFit-associated musculoskeletal injuries on a large scale. This study explores such injuries and associated risk factors in detail. Objective: To identify the most common musculoskeletal injuries endured during CrossFit training among athletes at different levels of expertise. Design: Survey-based retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting: Distribution at CrossFit gyms in the United States and internationally. Also published on active online forums. Participants: A total of 885 former and current CrossFit athletes. Methods: Institutional review board-approved 33-question Web-based survey focused on CrossFit injuries and associated risk factors. Survey submissions were accepted for a period of 6 months. Main outcome measurements: Specific injuries with associated workouts, risk factors that affected injury including (1) basic demographics, (2) regional differences in reported injuries, (3) training intensity, and (4) expertise level at time of injury. Results: Of the 885 respondents, 295 (33.3%) were injured. The most common injuries involved the back (95/295, 32.2%) and shoulder (61/295, 20.7%). The most common exercises that caused injury were squats (65/295, 22.0%) and deadlifts (53/295, 18.0%). Advanced-level (64/295, 21.7%) athletes were more significantly injured than beginner-level (40/295, 13.6%) athletes. International participants were 2.2 times more likely than domestic US participants to suffer injury. Individuals with 3+ years of CrossFit experience were 3.3 times more likely to be injured than those with 2 or less years of experience. Participants who trained for 11+ h/week were significantly more likely to be injured than those who trained less than or equal to 10 h/week. Conclusions: As CrossFit becomes more popular, it is important to monitor the safety of its practitioners. Further studies are needed to explore how to lower this injury prevalence of 33.3%. Areas to focus on include factors that have caused the regional (international vs US states) differences, level of expertise/experience differences (advanced level vs intermediate and beginner levels), and stretching routine modifications.

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Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate a nonsedating agent, lavender aromatherapy, to reduce anxiety before interventional spinal procedures. Design In this prospective, single-blind study performed at a tertiary care center for an academic institution, 144 patients undergoing spinal procedures (epidural steroid injection, medial branch block, or radiofrequency ablation) were randomized into two groups of 72 patients. The experimental group was exposed to a tablet formulation of lavender aromatherapy, while the control group was exposed to tablets devoid of any scent. The exposure duration for each group was 5 mins. The primary outcome measurement was patients’ anxiety state before the spinal procedure using the six-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Secondary outcomes quantified the rate of vasovagal events and aborted procedures because of patient intolerance. Results Compared with the control group, the posttreatment anxiety score of those exposed to lavender aromatherapy revealed a statistically significant difference as measured by the six-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (12.15 ± 2.67 and 10.67 ± 2.81, P < 0.05). Within group, the experimental group’s anxiety level decreased from 12.26 ± 2.75 to 10.67 ± 2.81 (P < 0.05). There were two vasovagal episodes and one aborted procedure in the control group, whereas there was one vasovagal episode and no aborted procedures in the aromatherapy group. Conclusions Lavender-based aromatherapy is effective in reducing preprocedural anxiety before interventional spine procedures for pain management.