One day, you wake up and decide that you are going to be more active about your physical health, so you walk your butt right on over to the nearest fitness center. You sign up and meet the trainer that will kick your butt into a physical specimen!

Heading home, you get this warm feeling knowing you’re taking the right steps in bettering your health. The next day you show up to the gym pumped-up and ready to do what it takes to achieve your goals.

The trainer has you start off with a two mile run at 7 miles an hour. Huh? That’s kind of tough for a first session, but hey you do it anyway since he/she probably knows what they are doing.
You complete the task thinking the hard stuffs out of the way, but for the next three hours he/she has you doing 3 sets of 15 repetitions of; dumbbell squats, lunges, back squats, front squats, leg extensions… etc.

At the end of the workout you are barely able to walk due to the unbearable pain! When you get home the only thing you can think about is how it can’t get any worst.

When you wake up the next morning, the pain continues with the addition of swelling and muscle tenderness. You have the urge to go to the bathroom and after you’re done you realize that your urine is a reddish, dark charcoal color, so you dial 911.

In this situation what occurred is called exertional rhabdomyolysis, and it’s real! If not treated, rhabdomyolysis can be very deadly. Basically what happens is the breaking down of the muscle proteins (myoglobin).

The breaking down of the myoglobin can potentially cause kidney failure due to the inability of the kidneys to filter that protein. Some of the known symptoms are muscle pain and tenderness, dark, red, or charcoal urine, and possible swelling.

This can occur in people with alcoholism, drug abuse, or genetic muscle diseases. In this situation rhabdomyolysis is particularly caused by over exertion. There is a high chance of full recovery if treated immediately. First steps in prevention are to know whether or not your trainer is competent!

Just because he/she said they are a certified strength and conditioning specialist doesn’t necessarily mean they are the best. Actually, it’s very easy for someone with that certification to cause exertional rabdomyolysis with their client.

Do some research; ask around the gym about that trainer. Find out how long he/she’s been training, if that trainer has injured any of their clients, their mood, anything! Remember your life is in their hands, so take initiative.

Now, for preventing self-induce rabdomyolysis, here are some steps to follow. When you first start an exercise regimen, whether from a one month break or just trying something new, begin slowly. Gradually increase your sets and reps to prevent major muscle tear. Once you are comfortable, turn it up!

I just want to let you know that I’m not trying to scare you from exercising with a trainer or from exercising period. I just want you to know the warning signs. I’m your friend, and I’m here to help you achieve the best version of yourself.

-Phil