As CrossFit continues to explode -- there are now more than 7,000 CrossFit gyms worldwide -- another industry is booming, too. Over the past two years, chiropractors have seen a significant leap in the number of patients with CrossFit-related overuse injuries, Examiner.com reports.

In a new Ohio State University study, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 16 percent of CrossFit participants dropped out due to "overuse or injury" -- an amount the researchers consider notable.

This could be further evidence that high-intensity training programs like CrossFit are associated with higher rates of musculoskeletal injury, the scientists say.

They even suggest that CrossFit isn't worth the injury risk -- and potential lost training time -- for people who are in "above average" or "well above average" shape, since the aerobic and body composition benefits of CrossFit drop off after a certain level of fitness. (If you're obsessed with CrossFit, you'll recognize a few of the quirks and habits on this list.)

As exercise physiologist Fabio Comana, M.S., concluded in an American Council on Exercise article, "You can achieve great results. You may quit because the programming is too difficult. You can get hurt."

This was based on his own experience -- but also interviews with 24 CrossFit trainers and participants.
He notes that the high intensity of CrossFit -- which was recently linked to a scary medical condition -- could push people to sacrifice their form during the workout, ultimately leading to injury.

We get it, we get it, a LOT of you are obsessed with CrossFit and swear by it. And look, if you're being safe about it and paying attention to your body's signals, then we're happy you've found a workout that you love. But if you're not sure you can tell the difference between normal soreness and serious pain (and even if you think you can), you should definitely check out our story: How To Tell if Your Workout is Too Intense.

Source: Examiner.com, American Council on Exercise