Q - Coach, this past week I read a New York Times article. It was about a woman who after a spin class experienced a serious condition called Rhabdomyolysis which I’ve never heard of.
Apparently the woman's legs throbbed with excruciating pain, her urine turned a dark shade of brown, and she felt nauseated. And she he ended up in the hospital. The article didn’t say anything about runners, so I’m wondering if you’ve ever heard of it. And so does my non-running wife who unfortunately read the article too...
A - I am aware of this condition., Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which damaged skeletal muscle breaks down and some of the breakdown products, such as the protein myoglobin are harmful to the kidneys and may lead to a potentially dangerous kidney failure. It's also a very tough word to use in scrabble...
By the way I did read the July 17 article you're referring to. It was titled "As Workouts Intensify, a Harmful Side Effect Grows More Common". Here's a link to it.
This condition is not new and has been scientifically investigated with runners as far back as 1978 - see HERE.
But it happens so rarely. In fact in over 4 decades of associating with runners and clients, not once I have encountered it directly or indirectly.
If you (and your wife) need reassurance, check out this 2007 study of runners which over a 6 year period only observed 7 cases of runners who experienced the condition and all recovered: HERE
For a really in depth review of this subject, you can check out this very lengthy review published earlier this year (2017) HERE
Apparently the woman's legs throbbed with excruciating pain, her urine turned a dark shade of brown, and she felt nauseated. And she he ended up in the hospital. The article didn’t say anything about runners, so I’m wondering if you’ve ever heard of it. And so does my non-running wife who unfortunately read the article too...
A - I am aware of this condition., Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which damaged skeletal muscle breaks down and some of the breakdown products, such as the protein myoglobin are harmful to the kidneys and may lead to a potentially dangerous kidney failure. It's also a very tough word to use in scrabble...
By the way I did read the July 17 article you're referring to. It was titled "As Workouts Intensify, a Harmful Side Effect Grows More Common". Here's a link to it.
This condition is not new and has been scientifically investigated with runners as far back as 1978 - see HERE.
But it happens so rarely. In fact in over 4 decades of associating with runners and clients, not once I have encountered it directly or indirectly.
If you (and your wife) need reassurance, check out this 2007 study of runners which over a 6 year period only observed 7 cases of runners who experienced the condition and all recovered: HERE
For a really in depth review of this subject, you can check out this very lengthy review published earlier this year (2017) HERE
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