title: Can KAATSU Exercise Cause Rhabdomyolysis?
abstract: In recent years, there has been increasing interest in using low-load resistance exercise in combination with a reduction in blood flow to promote muscle adaptation (ie, blood flow-restricted exercise or KAATSU exercise). There has been 1 case study reported in the literature of this type of exercise resulting in exertional rhabdomyolysis, and herein, we report the second case of exertional rhabdomyolysis. In this case, a 20-year-old man performed 6 sets of blood flow-restricted exercise (3 sets of knee-extension and 3 sets of elbow-flexion exercise). The subject presented with high levels of delayed onset muscle soreness in the days after the exercise bout exhibited high levels of creatine kinase (peak recorded: 36 000 IU/L), and was hospitalized for exertional rhabdomyolysis. We urge that investigators and practitioners use caution with blood flow-restricted exercise protocols and to begin these exercise programs modestly and gradually progress them with time.
authors.affiliation: *Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute (OMNI) and the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio; and †Institute on Aging and the Department of Aging and Geriatric Research at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Todd M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Manini
mesh_terms: D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult