A 24-year-old young woman landed in intensive care at a hospital with a fatal condition that got triggered by pushing herself too much in the gym. The woman was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis during her first spin class—a condition in which overworked muscles die, break down, and leak toxins into the blood.

According to doctors, toxins in the blood can lead to permanent kidney damage, leading them to stop working—a life-threatening condition if not treated quickly. Spinning - high-intensity indoor cycling usually targets your large muscles in the thighs and glutes. While it is hugely popular for its fast calorie burn and endurance boost, the exercise can also push beginners too far.

Doctors treating the woman said those with high BMIs have "adequate" energy and "muscle" bulk"—like the woman in the case report - to do spinning. "This endurance and some over-enthusiasm can lead them to spin for prolonged durations at varying intensities," medics wrote in a medical journal explaining the case.

"Combined with dehydration, lack of fitness, and the muscle mass of the quadriceps make them more prone to rhabdomyolysis after their first spinning session," they added.

Throbbing pain just two days after class

Just two days after the class, the woman was not able to walk upstairs as her thighs suffered from throbbing pain, which she said was unusually severe. Later, her pee turned from clear to brown, indicating something was seriously wrong. She later went to the hospital, where tests showed her creatine kinase levels - a marker of muscle damage—were more than 50 times the normal limit. Her muscle cells in her thighs had ruptured, releasing harmful substances like myoglobin into her bloodstream, putting severe strain on her kidneys.

She was immediately put on IV fluids to flush the toxins from her system while the doctors closely monitored her kidney function to prevent failure. After five days of intensive treatment, her muscle enzyme levels finally dropped, and her kidney function began to improve.

She was eventually discharged and made a full recovery.

Rhabdomyolysis is a condition where skeletal muscle tissue breaks down rapidly, releasing its contents, including the protein myoglobin, into the bloodstream.

Experts say the release leads to serious complications, such as kidney damage and electrolyte imbalances, if left untreated. This dangerous condition can result from overexertion, trauma, medications, or an underlying health condition. Common signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis are weak muscles, muscle stiffness, muscle pain, and a change in your pee colour.

Doctors say it is recommended that you go for gradual and low-intensity training and periodic training if you are a beginner for workouts. Also, make sure the training begins with adequate hydration along with warm-ups and stretching before the training begins and cool-downs afterward.

Experts advise that awareness regarding warm-ups and cool-downs should be given to all beginners involved in indoor spinning.

Warming up before exercise is crucial because it prepares your body for the upcoming activity, reducing the risk of injury and improving performance. It increases blood flow, elevates body temperature, and enhances flexibility, making your muscles more pliable and ready for exertion.