Introduced just 12 years ago, CrossFit has become so popular that practitioners typically have more than one box, or gym, to choose from in their area. If you’re tempted to take on a WOD (workout of the day) involving varied functional movements performed at high intensity, consider the findings of a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research which is among the first to calculate CrossFit training injury rates.

After receiving 132 responses to an online questionnaire, scientists determined that routine CrossFit training results in around 3 injuries for every 1,000 hours of exercise. This is similar to the rates estimated for Olympic weight training, power lifting and gymnastics and lower than what’s typically experienced playing contact team sports like football and rugby.

True Strength Moment: Of the 186 injuries reported, only 9 required surgery. Most involved the shoulders and back. Despite fears that CrossFit training might contribute to excessive muscle breakdown, no incidences of rhabdomyolysis were reported.