Exertion Induced Rhabdomyolysis
DISCLAIMER - The author of this site is not a doctor or a medical professional. The information below is collated from numerous medical websites. Whilst some content is abbreviated, references and links endeavor to direct readers to the content source. For full advice, please seek guidance from a medical professional.
Definition
Rhabdomyolysis (Rab-doe-my-o-lie-sis) is the rapid breakdown of muscle fibers and release of those muscle fibres (myoglobin) into the bloodstream.
It is then filtered out of the body by the kidneys. Myoglobin breaks down into substances that damage kidney cells.
This can not only be dangerous, it can be deadly!
Causes
There are numerous causes of Rhabdomyolysis including drug toxicity, heat stress, muscle trauma and physical exertion, the ingestion of satins.
This site focuses primarily on physical exertion based cases. These can be triggered by endurance events, such as;
Symptoms
Some patients will have no symptoms at all. Others may experience muscle aches and pains stiffness or muscle weakness. This is common in milder cases and can often be confused with Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).
More severe cases may present with;
Creatine kinase is an enzyme in the muscle cells. The level of each of this protein can be measure in the blood to monitor the degree of muscle injury from rhabdomyolysis. Myoglobin can also be measured in samples of urine.
The normal creatine kinase levels in a man are between 38 and 174 units/L; while a woman's creatine kinase levels range from between 96 to 140 units/L.
Natural elevation occurs after exercise, once levels are recorded about 500 units/L; mild Rhabdomyolysis has occurred. Some more severe cases have presented with 200,000 units/L or more.
Treating Rhabdomyolysis
The treatment depends on the amount of kidney damage.
In cases of mild Rhabdomyolysis, management can take place at home by simply with rest and rehydration.
Moderate to severe cases are treated in hospital with IV fluids and bed rest. Whereby doctors and monitor and manage kidney dysfunction, correction of any disturbance in the electrolytes, and monitoring the muscle enzyme levels
Patients have reported hospital stays of a few hours to up to a week depending on the severity of their case.
In extreme cases where there is an unusually high myoglobin level, kidney failure or compartment syndrome may occur. Extreme cases have resulted in fatalities.
Getting treated soon after Rhabdomyolysis begins will reduce the risk of permanent kidney damage.
People with milder cases may return to their normal activities within a few weeks to a month. It is not uncommon for people continue to have problems with fatigue and muscle pain.
Source: Medline Plus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000473.htm
Source: WebMD
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/rhabdomyolysis-symptoms-causes-treatments
Source: IdeaFit.com
http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/exercise-overexertion
Source: MedicineNet
http://www.medicinenet.com/rhabdomyolysis/article.htm
Definition
Rhabdomyolysis (Rab-doe-my-o-lie-sis) is the rapid breakdown of muscle fibers and release of those muscle fibres (myoglobin) into the bloodstream.
It is then filtered out of the body by the kidneys. Myoglobin breaks down into substances that damage kidney cells.
This can not only be dangerous, it can be deadly!
Causes
There are numerous causes of Rhabdomyolysis including drug toxicity, heat stress, muscle trauma and physical exertion, the ingestion of satins.
This site focuses primarily on physical exertion based cases. These can be triggered by endurance events, such as;
- triathlons
- marathons
- military training
- excessive resistance training
- repetitive eccentric exercise
- other exercise for which a participant is not well adapted
Symptoms
Some patients will have no symptoms at all. Others may experience muscle aches and pains stiffness or muscle weakness. This is common in milder cases and can often be confused with Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).
More severe cases may present with;
- Abnormal urine color (dark, red, or cola colored)
- Muscle stiffness or aching
- Painful, swollen, bruised, or tender areas of the body
- Weakness of the affected muscles
- Confusion, dehydration, fever
- Nausea or vomiting
Creatine kinase is an enzyme in the muscle cells. The level of each of this protein can be measure in the blood to monitor the degree of muscle injury from rhabdomyolysis. Myoglobin can also be measured in samples of urine.
The normal creatine kinase levels in a man are between 38 and 174 units/L; while a woman's creatine kinase levels range from between 96 to 140 units/L.
Natural elevation occurs after exercise, once levels are recorded about 500 units/L; mild Rhabdomyolysis has occurred. Some more severe cases have presented with 200,000 units/L or more.
Treating Rhabdomyolysis
The treatment depends on the amount of kidney damage.
In cases of mild Rhabdomyolysis, management can take place at home by simply with rest and rehydration.
Moderate to severe cases are treated in hospital with IV fluids and bed rest. Whereby doctors and monitor and manage kidney dysfunction, correction of any disturbance in the electrolytes, and monitoring the muscle enzyme levels
Patients have reported hospital stays of a few hours to up to a week depending on the severity of their case.
In extreme cases where there is an unusually high myoglobin level, kidney failure or compartment syndrome may occur. Extreme cases have resulted in fatalities.
Getting treated soon after Rhabdomyolysis begins will reduce the risk of permanent kidney damage.
People with milder cases may return to their normal activities within a few weeks to a month. It is not uncommon for people continue to have problems with fatigue and muscle pain.
Source: Medline Plus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000473.htm
Source: WebMD
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/rhabdomyolysis-symptoms-causes-treatments
Source: IdeaFit.com
http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/exercise-overexertion
Source: MedicineNet
http://www.medicinenet.com/rhabdomyolysis/article.htm