In the past week alone, rhabdo has been in the news twice.

Earlier this year, even a contestant onThe Bachelor, Medina Alam,shared her experiencewith rhabdo.

Rhabdo often affects those doing super intense workouts that involve heavy physical exertion.

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One concerning trend: research shows that CrossFit seems to berepeatedly linked1to rhabdo cases.

The CrossFit subreddit is rife with accounts of rhabdo.

Why does this community-oriented and challenge-focused modality appear to have such a potential dark side?

Two young women practicing ballet with a teacher in the dance hall.

professor of kinesiology atCalifornia State University, Dominguez Hills

To understand why, its worth knowing a little bit more about rhabdo.

What is rhabdomyolysis?

If muscles are extremely overworked, the muscle fibers can break down.

Woman doing hip exercises

So this can lead to kidney failure.

What are the symptoms of rhabdo?

Swelling with rhabdo can be extreme; Alams arm contained 12 pounds of swelling.

Cropped image of woman doing lunge yoga pose

ER is considered a medical emergency, and individuals should seek our medical care ASAP, Cheatham says.

Whos at risk for getting rhabdo?

Is there a connection between rhabdo and CrossFit?

Woman in leggings and bra doing Lunge with Arm Extended Up pose hip opener stretch during yoga session in morning at home.

professor of kinesiology atCalifornia State University, Dominguez Hills

Any jot down of exercise can cause rhabdo if a person overexerts themself at such an extreme level.

Unfortunately, there are a few things about CrossFit that raise some red flags.

(This is the challenge that most recently sent a woman to the hospital.)

Woman doing arm exercise without weights while sitting on mat at home.

Hopkins BS, Li D, Svet M, Kesavabhotla K, Dahdaleh NS.

CrossFit and rhabdomyolysis: A case series of 11 patients presenting at a single academic institution.

J Sci Med Sport.

A woman in sports clothes does yoga or gymnastics at home. Daylight. She smiles

2019 Jul;22(7):758-762. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2019.01.019.

Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Adhikari P, Hari A, Morel L, Bueno Y. Exertional Rhabdomyolysis After CrossFit Exercise.

2021 Jan 11;13(1):e12630.

PMID: 33585118; PMCID: PMC7872485.

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