My Doctor Diagnosed me with Rhabdomyolysis… What is it? (October, 2014)

Do you hear friends discuss their intense boot camp workouts? Maybe they are thinking of starting Crossfit? Those P90X or Insanity infomercials have you motivated? You may want to think twice, especially if you are out of shape.

Rhabdomyolysis is also called “death of muscle cells” when a muscle is damaged under stress. It releases the protein myoglobin which is the protein that stores oxygen in the muscles, and is then released into the bloodstream. High levels of myoglobin can then damage kidney cells and cause renal (kidney) failure. Most people suffering from this have dark, red or cola colored urine which means they have myoglobin in the blood. The individual may also experience muscle weakness, fatigue, bruising and difficulty moving their joints.

This is not a new syndrome, but one not known to the average person. Causes may include extreme muscle strain from over exercise, crash injuries from an accident, drug or alcohol induced dehydration and also high doses of statins or corticosteroids.

I first heard about this when several of my clients shared with me their diagnosis after their HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) regimen caused this to happen to them. Research shows that this type of interval training speeds up metabolism. According to American College of Sports Medicine’s “Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2014,” high-intensity interval training placed as the top fitness trend, despite warnings of many survey respondents about high injury rates.

I agree that intense exercise has many benefits, being a former collegiate tennis player and triathlete; but learning how to moderate activities and performing exercises correctly is very important. Improper training can only lead to injuries. Athletes at every skill level must learn skills to prevent this problem from developing. Of course, having sufficient nutrition and hydration are the key building blocks to an effective workout while drinking adequate water before, during and after which will help to flush out any myoglobin that is released from the muscles out of the kidneys. Also please don’t forget to stretch before and after.

References
1. WebMD.com – Rhabdomyolysis-Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
2. The Mayo Clinic-How do you know if you have Rhabdomyolysis from statin use?