shock! A high school girl stepped on the flywheel for 10 minutes but couldn't stand up! Rhabdomyolysis may lead to acute renal failure

If you suddenly overload yourself with heavy weight training, be careful of rhabdomyolysis! Xiao Cheng (pseudonym), a 15-year-old high school girl, pedaled a flywheel for 10 minutes and developed symptoms such as cola urine and inability to stand up, and she sought medical attention immediately. Li Minjun, director of the Department of Pediatrics at Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, diagnosed the patient with rhabdomyolysis based on symptoms and test data. Li Minjun reminded that whether it is weight training or exercise intensity, it should be planned and gradually increased, and proper warm-up and protection should be taken first to avoid injuries.

Director of Pediatrics Li Minjun helped Xiao Cheng check his kidney function. (Photo courtesy of Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital)

Xiao Cheng took the school's sports and leisure class once a week, where he trained with the track and field team members led by a coach. The class that day involved riding a flywheel bike, doing interval exercises at a specified weight and speed, and doing cardiopulmonary exercises. One set was one minute, with 60 pedal strokes in 30 seconds, followed by a 30-second rest, and repeated 10 sets. Xiao Cheng said that although the exercise load was greater than usual and his legs felt weak at the moment, he did not take it seriously.

When the mother heard Xiao Cheng say that his feet hurt, she initially thought that he had "iron legs" and that he would get better after resting for a day or two. However, after two days, his condition became increasingly severe. Not only was his urine dark brown like cola, he couldn't even stand up. Frightened, she rushed him to the doctor. Director Li Minjun found from Xiaocheng's physical manifestations as well as urine and blood test data that the creatine kinase (CK) level exceeded 20,000, which is 100 times the normal value of 200 U/L. The liver function index AST (aspartate aminotransferase) exceeded 1,000, which is 20 times the normal value of less than 50 U/L. The sharp increase in data showed that there was a problem with the muscles, and the patient was diagnosed with "rhabdomyolysis."

Director Li Minjun reminds that whether it is weight training or exercise intensity, it should be planned and gradually increased to avoid the occurrence of "rhabdomyolysis". (Photo courtesy of Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital)

Rhabdomyolysis may cause acute renal failure

Director Li Minjun pointed out that "rhabdomyolysis" usually occurs in sudden overload training or stressful changes, causing muscle damage. What is more worrying is that myosin will subsequently run to the kidneys and cause obstruction of the renal tubules, stimulating an inflammatory reaction that may cause "acute renal failure". If it is not properly treated, emergency dialysis treatment may be required. In addition, it should be noted that cell damage may cause an increase in potassium ions, which is called hyperkalemia, which can cause arrhythmia and slow heartbeat. In severe cases, cardiac arrest and sudden death may occur. Therefore, for such diseases, it is necessary to monitor the pulse and heartbeat.

Xiao Cheng was admitted to the hospital for treatment. Director Li Minjun asked him to stay in bed and drink enough water to avoid further damage to his kidneys. At the same time, he continued to monitor his kidneys, urine volume and color, blood pressure, heart rate and other data. After a week of hospitalization and renal ultrasound to confirm that there was no problem, he was discharged after he was able to walk on his own. Xiao Cheng's mother finally let go of her worries. She said that her daughter was only 15 years old and she was worried about the sequelae of dialysis. She reminded parents to seek medical attention as soon as possible if they found any abnormalities in their children.

Sports training should be carried out step by step, with proper warm-up and good protection to avoid injuries

Director Li Minjun reminded that sports training should be gradual and not too intense all at once, as this may lead to injury. It is recommended to warm up for at least 20 minutes to get the muscles moving and get the cells in the body ready for battle. Relaxation and recovery afterwards are also important to help prevent muscle damage. If you are someone who does not have the habit of exercising on a daily basis, you should be more careful and follow the routine. Whether it is weight training or exercise intensity, it is important to increase it gradually in a planned manner to avoid injuries.