Killer Workouts

Pushing it in the gym is one thing, but go too far and you could suffer a potentially life-threatening condition

- Katherine Schreiber

You've certainly heard the expression “no pain, no gain,” but there’s such a thing as pushing it too hard in your workouts. And the consequences can go far beyond sore muscles and fatigue. Athletes who overexert themselves to an extreme point can develop a condition called rhabdomyolysis, a breakdown of muscle tissue that can lead to kidney failure, heart damage, and even death.

Although relatively rare, rhabdo affects approximately 26,000 people in the United States each year. Athletes who do high-intensity or extreme endurance workouts are often among those who feel the effects of rhabdo.

Last October, Paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy was hospitalized for it; and one month earlier eight student athletes from Texas Woman’s University were also sent to the hospital with signs of the condition.

What Causes It?

High-endurance activities involving heavy lifting can increase the risk of rhabdo, as can other forms of over–exertion or trauma, says S. Adam Ramin, M.D., a urologic surgeon and medical director of Urology Cancer Specialists in Los Angeles. But while CrossFit is sometimes blamed for causing rhabdo, research shows CrossFitters are no more likely to develop it than powerlifters, gymnasts, or rugby players.