Injury Rate and Patterns in Group Strength-Endurance Training Classes

Area of Science:

• Exercise physiology
• Sports medicine
• Injury prevention

Background:

• High-intensity functional training (HIFT) is a popular training modality.
• Understanding injury rates in HIFT is crucial for participant safety.
• Previous research has yielded varied injury rate data for similar training styles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the injury rate associated with a 6-week high-intensity functional training program.
• To identify common injury locations and movements during HIFT.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 100 adult participants in a group strength-endurance training program.
• Participants completed surveys before and after the 6-week program to collect data on injuries.
• Injury was defined as new pain or injury sustained during exercise; the primary outcome was injuries per 1000 training hours.

Main Results:

• The injury rate was 9.0 injuries per 1000 training hours during the 6-week HIFT program.
• Knee and back injuries were most common, with burpees and squats identified as frequent causes.
• 18% of participants reported an injury, with 37.5% of all injuries occurring during scheduled training classes.

Conclusions:

• The observed increase in injury rate during the study was not statistically significant compared to the pre-enrollment period.
• The HIFT injury rate was higher than reported in retrospective studies of weightlifting but comparable to prospective studies of novice runners.
• Further research may be needed to establish definitive injury rates for HIFT programs.