MEDFORD, MASS. (WHDH) – Five members of the Tufts men’s lacrosse team were still hospitalized as of Friday afternoon, days after student athletes participated in a workout with a recent graduate of a Navy SEAL training program, a university spokesperson said.
The voluntary supervised workout happened on Monday and lasted 45 minutes. A Tufts alumnus who recently completed the BUD/S Navy SEAL program led the workout, according to Tufts Executive Director of Media Relations Patrick Collins.
Collins said 12 members of the team were diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis after the workout. Also known as “rhabdo”, rhabdomyolysis happens when damaged muscle tissue releases its contents into the bloodstream, as described by the Centers of Disease Control.
Rhabdomyolysis is often the result of overexertion and can be life-threatening.
“You can essentially give anyone rhabdomyolysis if you push them with an exercise regimen that is past their capacity, so say you force someone to spin …