Assessment of the Effect of a Six-Week CrossFit Training Program on Body Composition and Functional Capacity

This study investigates the impact of a six-week CrossFit training program on body composition and functional capacity in middle-aged men and women.CrossFit is a sport that involves high-intensity physical activities, including gymnastics, weightlifting, running, jumping, and lifting heavy objects.The research included 21 men and 17 women, all of whom were regular CrossFit practitioners.Body composition-assessed via multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance-covered body weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and muscle mass percentage, measured both before and after the training period.Functional capacity was evaluated through a comprehensive test battery, including handgrip strength, push-ups, sit-ups, sit-and-reach tests, and aerobic beep-test.Statistical analyses incorporated descriptive statistics, the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality, and paired-samples ttests to compare pre-and post-intervention results.The results revealed that height, weight, BMI, muscle mass, and fat mass remained relatively stable for both sexes over the six weeks.However, significant improvements were observed in upper body strength and endurance, with notable increases in mean sit-up and push-up performances in both men and women.Additional significant gains were detected in males on the sit-and-reach test and in females for hand grip strength and standing long jump.VO2max did not exhibit significant changes.In conclusion, the six-week CrossFit program positively influenced functional performance, especially upper body strength and endurance, although it did not substantially alter body composition.The findings offer practical insights for coaches and professionals designing CrossFit-based training regimens.