Background of the Incident and Its Impact

Last week, the Tufts University men's lacrosse team experienced a rare and potentially life-threatening muscle condition—rhabdomyolysis—due to participation in a voluntary intense training session. This condition is caused by the breakdown of damaged muscle tissue and is often associated with excessive exercise. Specifically, on September 16, after a 45-minute high-intensity training led by a Navy SEAL training graduate, nine lacrosse athletes were diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, while about 50 members of the entire team participated in this training.

Typical symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include severe muscle pain, muscle cramps, dark or cola-colored urine, and weakness or fatigue. These symptoms can easily be mistaken for general muscle soreness, but if symptoms persist, immediate medical attention is necessary. In this incident, five athletes were sent to the hospital; although several have been discharged, three athletes still require hospitalization and are receiving related medical care.

Tufts University has confirmed that to ensure the health of all athletes, all team training has been suspended until each member passes a medical examination and is cleared to return to training. To thoroughly investigate the cause of the incident, Tufts University has appointed an external independent investigator to assess the response measures and procedures and ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.

Understanding Rhabdomyolysis and Preventive Measures

According to Dr. Joshua Scott, a sports medicine expert at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Medical Center in Los Angeles, rhabdomyolysis is primarily related to overtraining. He points out that when athletes engage in prolonged exercise from high-intensity training they have never experienced before, it can trigger this condition. In this incident, the athletes participated in this high-intensity training without adequate physical preparation, leading to dangerous consequences.

Reviewing and improving the training process is crucial, and here are some recommendations to prevent rhabdomyolysis:

• Gradually increase exercise intensity to allow the body time to adapt.
• Pay attention to hydration to avoid dehydration.
• Regularly assess personal health and undergo appropriate medical check-ups.
• If abnormal symptoms occur, stop training immediately and seek medical assistance.

Tufts University expresses gratitude for the resilience of the athletes and the support from the community, which are vital components in promoting the safety of student-athletes. The university hopes that through the investigation and review of this incident, it can further strengthen safety and health protection measures for athletes.