Exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis (also known as rhabdo) is a potentially life-threatening syndrome that is especially prevalent in tactical athletes and sports athletes. Tactical athletes include first responders such as law enforcement, firefighters, servicemembers and other professionals who rely on their bodies to protect the lives of other people.
Rhabdomyolysis is caused by the excessive breakdown of skeletal muscle fibers, leading to leakage of muscle proteins and electrolytes into the body’s blood. Dehydration – especially during physical exertion in hot and humid environments – impairs the effective removal of these “dead” muscle particles in the urine.