Tufts lacrosse players discharged from hospital after rare muscle injury, university says
University Lacrosse Players Discharged After Rare Muscle Injury #
All nine members of a university men’s lacrosse team who were hospitalized this month with the rare muscle injury rhabdomyolysis have been discharged. The university has hired experts to investigate what led to so many serious injuries after a training session.
The university’s president and two deans expressed gratitude that the team members have returned to good health in an update to students.
The players became unwell after a ‘voluntary, supervised’ 45-minute workout led by a university alumnus who had recently graduated from a Navy SEAL training program. About 50 players participated in the workout, and nine were hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis, also known as rhabdo.
Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which muscles break down and leak their components into the bloodstream. In serious cases, it can cause damage to the kidneys and other organs. The condition is relatively rare and can be life-threatening.
The university, whose men’s lacrosse team won the division championship in May, has hired experts to investigate what contributed to the injuries and to assess the university’s response.
Cases of rhabdomyolysis can occur in student athletes if they participate in strenuous workouts when they’re just returning from breaks in training. A typical time of year when it’s seen in athletes is in the off-season or when getting ramped back up.
It’s unusual but not unheard-of for multiple members of a team to get rhabdomyolysis at the same time. Clusters of cases among athletes have been observed in the past among college football players and swimmers.
Certain nutritional supplements, including increased caffeine and creatine, can add to the risk of the condition, although it’s not clear whether those played any role in these cases.
The university officials acknowledged that there are many questions surrounding the incident. They stated they were following investigative best practices by refraining from making public statements to avoid unintentionally influencing the direction of the independent investigation. The findings will be shared when the investigation concludes.