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Quality in Sport

The Exertional rhabdomyolysis with acute kidney injury after high-intensity CrossFit training in a young healthy male with dehydration and creatine supplementation: A case report
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The Exertional rhabdomyolysis with acute kidney injury after high-intensity CrossFit training in a young healthy male with dehydration and creatine supplementation: A case report

Authors

  • Wojciech Neumann Szpital św. Wincentego a Paulo: Gdynia, Pomerania
  • Konrad Puchalski
  • Maria Małgorzata Lewowska
  • Bartłomiej Labut
  • Miraslau Kabak
  • Barbara Syska-lamb
  • Adrianna Kępa
  • Izabela Polakowska
  • Monika Pachcińska
  • Anna Sarolta Veer

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2025.48.67174

Keywords

exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, CrossFit, AI in sports medicine

Abstract

High-intensity physical exercise leads to exertional rhabdomyolysis which causes muscle tissue destruction and myoglobin leakage that results in acute kidney damage. The development of exertional rhabdomyolysis with acute kidney injury has been linked to two main factors: dehydration and performing extreme physical activities.

            The main objective of this case report involves showing a person who developed rhabdomyolysis with kidney failure following their CrossFit workout at maximum intensity and we will examine the elements which increase the risk of this condition.

            A 25-year-old male patient developed rhabdomyolysis symptoms after his high-intensity CrossFit workout. The patient's medical background, laboratory results and treatment progression were studied.

            The patient arrived at the hospital multiple hours after his exercise because his muscles were extremely painful and his urine had turned dark. The patient developed elevated creatine kinase levels and myoglobinuria and elevated serum creatinine which indicated acute kidney injury. The patient's medical history showed he had not drunk enough water and he was taking creatine supplements at the same time. The patient received aggressive intravenous fluid treatment which brought his test results back to normal and restored his kidney function and he fully recovered within several days.

            Exertional rhabdomyolysis represents a rare but dangerous condition that occurs when people perform excessive physical activity which can cause their kidneys to fail. The treatment of this condition requires immediate medical care and strong therapeutic methods to prevent severe complications from occurring. The prevention of exertional rhabdomyolysis requires healthcare providers to monitor athletes for dehydration and high-intensity exercise during their training sessions.

References

1. Chavez LO, Leon M, Einav S, Varon J. Beyond muscle destruction: A systematic review of rhabdomyolysis for clinical practice. Crit Care. 2016;20(1):135. doi:10.1186/s13054-016-1314-5.

2. Yang BF, Li D, Liu CL, Luo Y, Shi J, Guo XQ, et al. Advances in rhabdomyolysis: A review of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Chin J Traumatol. 2025; [Epub ahead of print]. doi:10.1016/j.cjtee.2024.10.005.

3. Kim J, Lee J, Kim S, Ryu HY, Cha KS, Sung DJ. Exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis mechanisms and prevention: A literature review. J Sport Health Sci. 2016;5(3):324–333. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2015.01.012.

4. Sunder A, Mohanty B, Singh A, Yadav P. Rhabdomyolysis – Exercise induced nightmare. J Family Med Prim Care. 2019;8(1):305–307. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_370_18.

5. Adhikari P, Hari A, Morel L, Bueno Y. Exertional Rhabdomyolysis After CrossFit Exercise. Cureus. 2021;13(1):e12630. doi:10.7759/cureus.12630.

6. Lawrensia S, Henrina J, Cahyadi A. CrossFit-Induced Rhabdomyolysis in a Young Healthy Indonesian Male. Cureus. 2021;13(4):e14723. doi:10.7759/cureus.14723.

7. Tibana RA, de Sousa NMF, Cunha GV, Prestes J, Navalta JW, Voltarelli FA. Exertional rhabdomyolysis after an extreme conditioning competition: A case report. Sports (Basel). 2018;6(2):40. doi:10.3390/sports6020040.

8. Rojas-Valverde D, Sánchez-Ureña B, Moncada-Jiménez J, et al. Exertional rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury in endurance sports: A systematic review. Eur J Sport Sci. 2021;21(2):261–274. doi:10.1080/17461391.2020.1746837.

9. Scalco RS, Snoeck M, Quinlivan R, Treves S, Laforêt P, Jungbluth H, et al. Exertional rhabdomyolysis: physiological response or manifestation of an underlying myopathy? BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2016;2(1):e000151. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2016-000151.

10. Khalil MA, Saab BR. Resistance exercise–induced rhabdomyolysis: Need for immediate intervention and proper counselling. Aust Fam Physician. 2016;45(12):898–901.

Quality in Sport

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Published

2026-01-02

How to Cite

1.
NEUMANN, Wojciech, PUCHALSKI, Konrad, LEWOWSKA, Maria Małgorzata, LABUT, Bartłomiej, KABAK, Miraslau, SYSKA-LAMB, Barbara, KĘPA, Adrianna, POLAKOWSKA, Izabela, PACHCIŃSKA, Monika and VEER, Anna Sarolta. The Exertional rhabdomyolysis with acute kidney injury after high-intensity CrossFit training in a young healthy male with dehydration and creatine supplementation: A case report. Quality in Sport. Online. 2 January 2026. Vol. 48, p. 67174. [Accessed 5 January 2026]. DOI 10.12775/QS.2025.48.67174.
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Issue

Vol. 48 (2025)

Section

Medical Sciences

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Copyright (c) 2026 Wojciech Neumann, Konrad Puchalski, Maria Małgorzata Lewowska, Bartłomiej Labut, Miraslau Kabak, Barbara Syska-lamb, Adrianna Kępa, Izabela Polakowska, Monika Pachcińska, Anna Sarolta Veer

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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