An 18-year-old youth in New Delhi has damaged his kidney and developed muscle problems after an aggressive workout session at the gym. After the reopening of gyms in various parts of the country, many are rushing to make up for lost time. The 18-year-old Lakshya Bindra fell prey to such impatience and exercised too vigorously when his gym reopened after three months of lockdown. He suffered from adverse consequences and had to be taken to the hospital.
“When the patient came to our hospital, he was suffering from acute pain in the abdomen, black-coloured urine with reduced urine output, and damaged kidney and liver functions. 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,” said Dr Dilip Bhalla, Senior Consultant in the Department of Renal & Kidney Transplant at Max Hospitals. “The patient was immediately wheeled into the 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,” he explained. “We do not know the timeline of how the patient’s kidney got affected. He came to us three days after exercising at the gym,” he adds.
“The enzyme myoglobin is released due to muscle injury which leads to kidney dysfunction. If not detected in time, it can lead to eventual kidney shutdown and lifethreatening complications. It was rare for us to see such a young individual suffering from non-functioning kidneys,” said Dr Abbas Ali Khatai, Consultant, Emergency Medicine at Max Hospitals.
Doctors are now advising against intense exercise immediately after the long gap which came with the lockdown. Explaining the condition further, Dr Khatai said, “Every person’s body is different and reacts differently to exercise regimens. It is essential to know the limitations of one’s 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 is a common cause for rhabdomyolysis. This protein enters the blood stream, from where it finds its way into the kidneys, leading to kidney failure.”