Analysis of physiological determinants during a single bout of Crossfit

The purpose of this study was to analyse the physical and physiological demands of a single bout of Crossfit training. Heart rate, blood pressure, pulse pressure, rate pressure product, mean arterial pressure, spirometry, blood lactate, blood glucose and total cholesterol were measured in 12 sedentary, college-aged males before and following a single bout of Crossfit. A single bout of Crossfit significantly (p < .05) increased HR (79.17±21.96 to 108.00±23.71 bpm; p = .002), RPP (8995.00±3434.33 to 11808.60±6191.09; p = .028) and blood lactate (2.20±1.35 to 5.95±3.24 mmol.l-1; p = .003), while decreasing forced expiratory volume in one-second (FEV1) (3.71±0.37 to 3.53±0.42 l; p = .034). Crossfit had no effect on systolic blood pressure (p = 0.450), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.844), pulse pressure (p = 0.168), mean arterial pressure (p = 0.638), forced vital capacity (FVC) (p = 0.054), FEV1/FVC (%) (p = 0.308), total cholesterol (p = 0.195) and blood glucose (p = 0.609). In conclusion, Crossfit can be considered moderate-to high-intensity and is of sufficient intensity and safety to serve as a genuine time-efficient alternative to high-intensity interval training and conventional cardiorespiratory training.