Medical expert warns viral crate challenge has potential tro cause injuries with lifelong implications

The social media-sphere has been flooded with one of the toughest and most entertaining challenges to date, and while the crate challenge has provided many of us with laughs, it looks like those who have chosen to participate could be putting themselves at serious risk.

The original videos feature folks attempting to climb stacked crates, most of whom are unsuccessful after their first few steps. People have since put their own spin on the challenge, and a select few have even made it across. Regardless, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vonda Wright warns against doing the challenge, or potentially risk sustaining lifelong health injuries.

“This is probably the one that I’ve seen that has the highest potential for bodily injury that will take people out not just of their daily lives, but could have lifelong implications,” Dr. Wright told NBC News. “I get that it’s fun but let’s use our brains for something other than hitting our heads on the ground.”

According to Dr. Wright, people who attempt the challenge could sustain injuries such as wrist fractures, forearm fractures, broken femur bones, torn ACL’s, or concussions with a head bleed that could potentially cause lifelong brain damage. It’s unclear how many serious injuries have been reported, but people taking the climb to the top of the crates are taking some hard falls.