Beware of rhabdomyolysis caused by exercise overload!

  Under the hot heat, the new students are excited to start the devilish military training. Xiaohua is a student who just got into a key high school. Just two days after the military training, Xiaohua felt muscle pain all over his body, especially obvious with his thigh muscles, he thought it was just general athletic muscle pain, so he continued to insist on training, not to be left behind. However, the muscle pain in Xiaohua’s leg became more and more intense, and began to swell, with difficulty in moving around and tea-colored urine. He realized that the problem might be serious and immediately went to the hospital. The examination revealed extremely elevated muscle enzymes and myoglobin >3000ng/ml (normal value 28~72ug/ml), and was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, which is an acute and critical condition and must be hospitalized immediately.  Transverse muscle is mostly the muscle responsible for movement. Rhabdomyolysis refers to various causes of rhabdomyolysis caused by a variety of genetic or acquired diseases of the rhabdomyocyte membrane, membrane channels and their energy supply resulting in rhabdomyolysis injury, changes in cell membrane integrity, release of myocyte contents (such as myoglobin, creatine kinase, small molecule substances, etc.) and toxic substances into the circulation, mostly accompanied by acute renal failure and metabolic disorders.  Common triggers: excessive exercise, muscle crush injury, electric shock, hyperthermia, ischemia, metabolic disorders (hypokalemia, hypothyroidism, diabetic ketoacidosis), drugs (statins, erythromycin, glucocorticoids, etc.), toxins (alcohol, snake venom, bee venom, organophosphorus pesticides), autoimmune diseases (dermatomyositis, polymyositis), infections (Legionella, influenza virus A or B), etc. Common genetic-related factors such as creatine phosphorylase deficiency, carnosine soft acyltransferase II deficiency and other etiologies.  Clinical manifestations: muscle pain, tenderness, swelling and weakness, also fever, general malaise, urine may be tea, red wine or soy sauce colored. Acute renal failure occurs in approximately 30% of cases. When acute renal failure occurs, oliguria, anuria and renal failure may be present. Severe cases may present with multiple organ dysfunction and high mortality. Laboratory tests: routine urine with “blood” but no or few red blood cells on microscopic examination; creatine kinase more than 5 times the normal value; elevated myoglobin.  Treatment: Please go to the hospital immediately if you experience the above symptoms. First remove the causative factors of rhabdomyolysis and avoid the risk factors that aggravate rhabdomyolysis. Protect the kidneys and maintain the stability of the body’s internal environment: rehydrate heavily, alkalize the urine, and apply antioxidants to protect renal tubular cells. If acute renal failure has occurred, blood purification therapy (e.g. hemodialysis) is needed until renal function is restored.  How to prevent sports rhabdomyolysis: 1, strengthen the adaptive training, pay attention to the gradual progress, especially the new recruits and weaker physical fitness from the training time, intensity, heat resistance and other aspects should be gradually increased.  2, pay attention to the impact of weather and environmental factors on sports safety, avoid heavy training in the direct sunlight, hot and humid summer noon.  3, replenish enough water, electrolytes and vitamins, and encourage small amounts of water several times.  4, athletes should understand that excessive exercise in a hot or humid environment can cause damage to the body’s tissues and organs, do not reluctantly complete the excessive exercise load. If physical discomfort occurs, seek medical treatment in a timely manner to prevent serious complications.