Exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis: even the fit may suffer

Keeping fit has its risks. We describe the case of a 29-year-old woman who presented with rhabdomyolysis following non-exhaustive exercise. Cases of exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis have been reported in unfit individuals or those attempting exhaustive exercise such as marathon running or weight lifting but are unusual in fit individuals making modest changes to their normal fitness routine. Renal failure is the most serious complication of rhabdomyolysis but is apparently rarer when the rhabdomyolysis is caused by exercise. Surprisingly the published literature does not help us advise patients on the risk of suffering further episodes of acute rhabdomyolysis with further exercise. We suggest that, regardless of a person's fitness, when starting a new exercise he or she does so gradually.