Exercise-induced Rhabdomyolysis
SOURCE: Brogan M, et al. Am J Med 2017;130:484-487.
For exceptionally young clinicians who are unfamiliar with Mae West (1893-1980), she was an actress, playwright, comedian, and screenwriter credited with quotes such as, “When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I’ve never tried before,” and, “Too much of a good thing is a really good thing.” However, there are exceptions to all rules, right?
Sometimes, a segment of the population that decides to embrace exercise does too much of a good thing. Brogan et al enlightened us about 46 reported cases of acute rhabdomyolysis that occurred specifically after engaging in the vigorous activity of spinning: the use of stationary cycles that are adjustable for the degree of resistance and steepness of climb.
Even among physically fit women, a substantial amount of time above the ventilatory threshold (the level at which lactate begins to accumulate) is spent during a 45-minute spin class. Of the 46 above-mentioned cases of spin-class related rhabdomyolysis, 42 occurred after the first spinning class (in presumably less-conditioned individuals).
While clinicians endorse the health benefits of engaging in physical activity, patients who decide to choose spinning (cycling) as their exercise method must be cautioned to build exercise intensity gradually rather than doing too much of a good thing.
Patients who decide to choose spinning (cycling) as their exercise method must be cautioned to build exercise intensity gradually.
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