What is rhabdo? How intense workouts could seriously hurt you
- Rhabdomyolsis is a condition where a person's muscles break down
- It's rare, with roughly 26,000 cases reported annually
- Data shows it has greatly increased in last two decades
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(NewsNation) — When you think fitness, you might think pushing your body to its limits — but what are the consequences of reaching those reps?
Rhabdomyolsis, a rare health condition that can cause kidney disease and sometimes death, has been linked to extreme workouts and overexertion, like the Navy SEAL routine that hospitalized a dozen college athletes earlier this year.
What is rhabdomyolysis?
Rhabdomyolysis is a rare injury where a person’s muscles break down, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
As muscle disintegrates, toxic components found in your muscle fibers can enter your circulation system and kidneys, causing damage to the organ, seizures, permanent disability and, in extreme cases, death.
It takes excessive exercise and strenuous activities to injure your muscles so severely, causing a link between the condition and intense workout programs like CrossFit and HIIT programs.
According to the CDC, symptoms include:
- Muscle swelling and cramps
- Tender, sore and weak muscles
- Brown, red or tea-colored urine
It’s a life-threatening condition that can happen after an injury or excessive exercise without rest.
Is rhabdo common?
No, it’s a relatively rare muscle injury. According to the Cleveland Clinic, roughly 26,000 people develop the condition each year, with young men as one of the highest-risk demographics.
A 2021 study analyzing reported cases between 2000 and 2019 showed a 10-fold increase in hospital visits between the decades.
12 Tufts lacrosse players diagnosed
A dozen Tufts University men’s lacrosse players were diagnosed with the rare muscle injury after participating in a voluntary, supervised 45-minute workout that the team conducted by a graduate who’d undergone Navy SEAL training.
All have since been released from the hospital.
“Our thoughts are with the players and their families, and we are hoping for their quick return to good health under the care of local medical experts,” said Patrick Collins, director of media relations for the school, in a statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
