Gyms are slowly reopening in Unlock 3 and people are rushing to exercise after staying at home for months, but the case of an 18-year-old youth from Delhi highlights the adverse health consequences of excessive and aggressive gymming.
Lakshay Bindra, an avid gymming enthusiast, wanted to make up for lost time when his favourite gym reopened after three months of lockdown. He hit the gym over-enthusiastically and exercised for over an hour quite vigorously. That same evening, he began to suffer from extreme muscle fatigue, body stiffness and pain, along with vomiting. He reached Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj in Delhi, in a bad shape after suffering at home for three days.
Said Dr. Dilip Bhalla, Senior Consultant, Dept. of Renal & Kidney Transplant, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj, New Delhi: “When the patient came to our hospital, he was suffering from acute pain in the abdomen, black-colored urine with reduced urine output, and deranged kidney and liver function. He was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a health condition in which acute muscle breakdown occurs. This in turn releases certain types of enzymes in the blood stream, leading to kidney malfunction. The patient was immediately wheeled into ICU and started on IV fluids to maintain hydration and provide nutrients to his muscles. Gentle physiotherapy was conducted for several days to soothe his muscles. In addition, he needed two sessions of dialysis as his kidneys had stopped functioning totally. Slowly, as days passed, the patient started improving. His muscle stiffness and pain began to subside gradually, even as he slowly regained muscle power.”
Added Dr. Dilip Bhalla: “We do not know the timeline as to when the patient’s kidney got affected. He came to us three days after exercising at the gym. His kidney could have got damaged anytime during this period. The enzyme myoglobin released due to muscle injury leads to kidney dysfunction. If not detected in time, it can lead to eventual kidney shutdown and life-threatening complications. It was rare for us to see such a young individual suffering from non-functioning kidneys. Luckily, we managed to lead him to full recovery after a week’s stay at the hospital. His kidneys have revived and are fully functional now.”
Said Dr. Abbas Ali Khatai, Attending Consultant, Emergency Medicine, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj, New Delhi: “Extreme physical activity can lead to muscle breakdown. This is a common cause for rhabdomyolysis. Every person’s body is different and reacts differently to exercise regimens. It is essential to know the limitations of one’s own body, stay hydrated and get proper professional guidance when exercising – be it weightlifting, Yoga, cardio or cross-fit. Aggressive, unaccustomed exercise leads to accumulation of acid in the muscles which leads to breakdown of muscle protein. This protein then enters the blood stream from where it finds its way into the kidneys, leading to kidney failure.”
Added Dr. Abbas Ali Khatai: “Lockdown has its own problems, but so does the un-locking phase, as shown by this case. Caution is the key and not over-doing what the body cannot tolerate. Prompt recognition of the problem and timely treatment helped save this young man from grave consequences. Our advice to gym goers is to warm up slowly, gradually preparing the body for the exercise program. One should also drink a lot of water and take nutrients so that the muscles are not unduly stressed. Appropriate rest between exercising is recommended. Ideally, a qualified gym trainer should be guiding the exercise program.”
