Rhabdo can be caused by traumatic muscle injuries — such as during a car accident— or by strenuous exercise, with marathoners and military personnel exercising in hot, humid environments being especially vulnerable. It can also occur in firefighters operating in high temperatures, as well as those with inherited muscle, metabolic or mitochondrial disorders. Lately though, it is occurring to more people who are unused to extreme exercises such as spinning or high intensity interval training (HIIT).

The TTSH consultant interviewed in the April CNA report said that of the last 20 rhabdo patients he saw, 19 overexerted themselves during spinning. “Only one case was a young man who went for a 10km run without prior preparation,” he revealed.

According to a research in the New England Journal of Medicine, age matters too. Older people are at higher risk of overexertion, as are men compared to women, and those with a higher level of body fat. Healthcare experts also found that certain individuals are more susceptible to overexertion after intense exercise due to their genetic backgrounds.

If you fall under any one of the at-risk groups, that does not necessarily mean that strenuous exercise is off the table. After all, muscle growth is stimulated and strengthened by exposure to stress. Also, it is quite possible that you might never experience overexertion, if you work out within your comfort levels.