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Annotated Bibliography 1

Kuhn, Steven, (2013) The Culture of CrossFit: A Lifestyle Prescription for Optimal Health and

Fitness. Senior Theses - Anthropology. Paper 1. (http://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/sta/1)

Steven Kuhn (2013) began the article by explaining how Crossfit was formed, how it has grown

and what it is now. The article explains that Greg Glassman formed Crossfit in 1996 and from its

18 affiliated gyms turned to over 1700 worldwide. Now present day, “CrossFit is now a diet and

exercise program, a corporate franchise of gyms and trainers, and a community of Practitioners”.

(1) The author begins to explain how Crossfit participants follow our Paleolithic ancestors diet

such as fresh meats, vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts. With this way of thinking, Kuhn

describes how anthropologists now argue that the difference of modern day biology is different

then what it was. The effects of obesity due to the distinct biology of present day and how it has

less likely to happen during paleo times. Kuhn describes how 1800’s Reverend Sylvester

Graham began the health movement, to target the root rather then rely on medicine. He then

explains how Graham’s health movement and crossfit parallel with one another in the case of,

“preventing sickness all in all by living out a lifestyle of practicing daily healthy rituals”. (4) As

the article progress Kuhn describes the exercise program and how it is constantly varied and that

high intensity programs had been around even before it was created but that the difference is that,

“CrossFit creates a sense of community and belonging that constructs an atmosphere in which

the clients are begging to go back” (10).

Patel, Pratik, (2008) The Influence Of A Crossfit Exercise Intervention On Glucose Control In

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Overweight And Obese Adults

(http://krex.kstate.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2097/14961/PratikPatel2012.pdf?sequence=3)

The article first describes the most common health disorder in America, which is Obesity. It was

stated that 2/3 of Americans suffer from being overweight or obesity. They also said that they

suffer from insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. They go on to explain how high intensity

training can improve an individual’s insulin sensitivity and improve blood glucose control. “The

CF method may provide substantial and significant improvements in health and fitness by

combining the A-RT modalities prescribed by the ACSM and ADA done at relatively high

intensity by combining weightlifting, monostructural, and gymnastics movements to elicit an

improvement in glucose control while taking less time to accomplish per session compared to

lower intensity protocols.” (10) The article goes more in depth on how exercise and resistance

training can improve insulin sensitivity, blood control, build a stronger body, and decrease the

body fat percentage. They also go into saying how the programs intensity can be seen within 6,

12, and 16 weeks of training.

Gerhart, Hayden D., (2013) A Comparison Of Crossfit Training To Traditional Anaerobic

Resistance Training In Terms Of Selected Fitness Domains Representative Of Overall Athletic

Performance

(https://dspace.iup.edu/bitstream/handle/2069/2024/Hayden%20D. %20Gerhart%20%28Thesis%

29.pdf?sequence=1)

The purpose of the article was to observe two groups, the crossfit participants and the traditional

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resistance participants. He observed and gathered data within these two groups thru 7-field test

such as the body composition, flexibility, aerobic capacity, maximum strength, agility, maximum

power, and muscular endurance. As he begins his article he talks about how the traditional

anaerobic exercisers are understood while crossfit has not been thoroughly evaluated. He goes

into saying that TAR (traditional anaerobic resistance) has many benefits such as the

improvement of the physical functions and body composition while crossfit are undocumented

due to it constantly varying and high intensity. As the article continues the author talks more in

depth on the benefits of training resistance and the differences of crossfit. As the articles

progresses further in, the author conducted field test on participants through TAR and crossfit.

During the post test participants were asked to measure their body composition, fitness heart rate,

and peak aerobic capacity. They were also asked to complete an exiting screening to finish the

test. During the test one participant from the TAR group and one from the CF group had left the

screening due to scheduling issues and lower body injury. Overall the 88% of the TAR group

had said that the program exceeded their expectations and 66% of the CF group. They also

concluded that the CF group had less exercises then the other. The Cf group had better results

within the body composition loss and VO2 peak.

Gillio, Sarah M., (2013) Socially supported exercise: implications for improving mental health in

women

(https://dspace.smith.edu/bitstream/handle/11020/24206/S%20Gillio%20Thesis%20Text%20for

%20PDF%20REAL%20FINAL.pdf?sequence=1)

As Sarah stated in the introduction, “The purpose of this study was to explore the qualities of

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exercise programs that contribute to women’s feelings of vitality and integration of self.”(1)

Sarah had implicated that the study was to seek out how crossfit can improve a women’s state of

mental health and explore other treatments for mental healthiness. She goes on to explain that

throughout history people have used exercise as way to improve not only physique but also

mental healthiness. It reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. She also states that although it is

good it is hardly recognized in society and that it’s much preferred by medications. She then

goes to say how important exercise is beneficial for women and that women are more likely to

have mental disorders, anxiety, and depression. Sarah also goes more in depth about the benefits

of exercise and past experiments/studies that relate. As the article rinds down she goes into

saying that the CF community support and team dynamic help with empathy and friendship.

Another part of the community is that there is no gender equality and that everyone is equal.

Smith Michael M., Sommer Allan J., Starkoff Brooke E., Devor Steven T., November 2013

Volume 7 Issue 11 Crossfit-based high intensity power training improves maximal aerobic

fitness and body composition

(http://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/CFJ_Devor_CrossFit_Publication_1.pdf)

The article talks about crossfits High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and how it is an

alternative to other programs to improve aerobic training. In the article they talk about how there

is no published investigations that document the changes of VO2 (aerobic capacity) so they

sought out if HIPT made any changes to the body. As a method they started “Body composition

using air displacement plethysmography and maximal aerobic capacity using a Bruce treadmill

graded exercise test were assessed in all subjects in the morning (7:30 AM to 11:30 AM) over a

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five day period preceding the onset of training. Measurements were obtained following an

overnight fast, and subjects refrained from exercise, alcohol, and caffeine for the previous 24

hours.”(4) The aim of the study was to see the effects of the high intensity program and found

that over a 10-week process it improved their body composition of all levels of gender.

Kula, Kevin J., (2013) Benefits of structural integration for Crossfit Athletes Competing in the

“Sport of Fitness”

(http://www.flexibilityrx.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/04/Kula2013IASIYearbook.pdf)

In this article Kevin talks about what crossfit is and his very own observation of crossfit. Within

the article he uses many references such as the crossfit creator himself Greg glassman and even

himself with his previous book, Moving Beyond Muscle. He also explains the movements, past

injuries that improved, observations and interviews of crossfitters. Throughout the article he

attended 12 different sessions and with each session came different movements that involved

different muscle groups. During the sessions he observed a women named Melissa Einbinder

who was a member at Crossfit Scottsdale. She was previously a gymnast before learning about

triathlon. She then had a knee injury due to prolonged distant running where she then turned to

crossfit. As she began to rehabilitate, her knee injury went away and is now currently working

out 4 days a week so throughout the sessions he observed her. Towards the end of the article he

discusses the harmony of flexibility and strength and how they both equal each other out.

“Strong but yielding, adaptable yet rooted—when strength and flexibility are both cultivated in

the gym a person’s fitness, emotional well-being, and personal growth will reach new potentials.”

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(138)

Paine, J., Uptgraft, J., & Whylie, R., (May 2010) Crossfit Study

(http://www.crossfitpraha.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/US-Army-Study.pdf)

This article is studying how effective the crossfit program can increase the physical readiness of

the U.S. Army. The article explains that in the U.S. Army, physical training was an important

role for combat readiness. In the late 1990’s the Army had begun to see that their way of

physical training was not efficient and that it had declined from previous soldiers back in the day.

The article then describes that, “Throughout the past decade the realities of modern combat have

caused many military leaders and organizations within the U.S. military, in addition to the U.S.

Army Physical Fitness School, to rethink physical training and its relation to combat readiness.”

(9) As the study began, they studied the change of physical readiness in 14 participants for an 8-

week crossfit program. Prior to the test, they had found that participants with no crossfit

experience scored below average, participants with little experience were average, and those with

experience scored significantly higher in the Army Physical Fitness (APFT). As the program

began, they started off with the APFT to set the standards equally. Throughout the course they

will continue with the WOD (Workout of the Day) and continued over the 8-week training. At

the end of the article they give you a description of the workouts and how to properly do them.

Smith, Kasey, (2013) Will Trained Crossfit Athletes Continue To See Fitness Benefits Or Will

They Plateau?

(https://dspace.uta.edu/bitstream/handle/10106/11766/Smith%20poster.pdf?sequence=1)

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In this article, the author wanted to see if long-term crossfitters would see benefits after a longer

period of time. For his method he used 10 participants who had a minimum of 3 months of

crossfit (7 men and 3 women). Before the benefits began they underwent a pre-test that included

a body fat percentage, max upper body lifts and lower body lifts. As the trial began they were

told to follow their own frequency (their own speed). It was calculated that within that month

time frame they had attended at least 6.5 class sessions. At the end of the trial there was a

significant drop from their body fat percentage as well as an increase in the lifts. Following this

his conclusion came that within a longer time frame then a month, they would have had better

results. He also said it would be more beneficial to study a larger group, longer time frame and a

specific gender with a set frequency.

Castillo, A., (2013) Crossfit to drop fat fast: A Beginners Guide To Crossfit Training To Drop

Fat Fast

(http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=yYuvAQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=cros

sfit+benefits&ots=iegvwypvyB&sig=H6QvqtErk4Ci6F4a2H4NUO2dKYA#v=onepage&q=cros

sfit%20benefits&f=false)

The book begins by explaining why it is important to exercise/workout. The benefits it provides

to a stronger mental and physical well being. The introduction explains all this and why to chose

crossfit. It describes crossfit as being able to work out not only in gyms but at home with family

as well. Chapter one of the book describes what crossfit is and how sports medicine experts say,

“training as balanced and holistic way of attaining fitness and health in a short period of time”(3).

In this chapter it also describes what it does to the body that crossfit focuses on all the muscle

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groups rather then one in particular. Chapter two discusses the history of crossfit, including the

creator himself and how he has formed the enterprise. Throughout the book it explains how

people who participate in crossfit have gained a great benefit that included enhanced flexibility,

balance, agility, strength and so much more. This book also describes how you can lose fat fast

with their training.

Robertson, Eric, (2013, September 25) Crossfit’s Dirty Little Secret (https://medium.com/health-

fitness-1/97bcce70356d)

In this article written in the “Health in Fitness” is about Rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition that

breaks down the muscle cells. The author talks about a colleague of his who is a physical

therapist that had joined a crossfit gym. She had been there many times before hand but talks

about a certain day where she was doing a partner work out. The workout involved a tremendous

amount of push-ups and overhead press. As she went home her triceps were damaged but for

exercisers it would be a norm. But what she questioned was “it this suppose to hurt” (1). The

next day she found it hard to bend at the elbow and as a physical therapist could not treat her

patience. After a 24-hour period she decided to go to the hospital. She was then diagnosed with

acute rhabdomyolysis. While she was in the hospital she called the crossfit gym to cancel her

membership and her instructor asked why, she replied by saying she was in the hospital and

quickly he replied with, “is it rhabdo?” The author then goes on to explain what Rhabdomyolsis

is and how it affects the kidneys. The severity can cause you to lose a limb or cause you to lose

the muscle. He then goes to question if crossfit will ever change for the safety and if crossfit is

really worth it.

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