A few weeks ago, 13 University of Iowa football players were hospitalized following a tough off season workout session. At the hospital, the athletes were diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is a muscle disorder linked to kidney damage. The ailment is also stress-related. Most of the players were treated with fluids. The Thursday workout included a high repetition of squats and other leg exercises in a short period of time. The players then participated in a similar workout for upper body the next day. On the following Monday, the players went to the trainers and complained of pain. They were then sent to the hospital.
The first thing that I have always thought in regards to the Iowa football team is that they are big, strong, tough, and physical. I now see why. The high repetitions transform these athletes to get bigger in a shorter amount of time. This type of workout is physically demanding and requires mental and physical toughness. As a high school strength coach, this provides me with an amount of caution when I set up a workout. Knowing that this happened at a major college, reveals the potential dangers of a demanding workout that I normally wouldn't think twice about. I will especially take heed to physical limitations of an athlete after reading this article. I never knew that lifting could cause kidney damage. On the other hand, I wonder if the workout is entirely to blame for the players' ailments. The players complained of severe soreness throughout the body, which is understandable. However, their urine was also tea-colored. To me that doesn't point to a football workout. The players didn't complain of the symptoms until after the weekend. This leads me to believe the athletes were taking part in normal college life and were probably partying and drinking. Despite that probability, this incident has lead me to be more cautious in my job.
Iowa football players hospitalized
