Case Report

Can KAATSU Exercise Cause Rhabdomyolysis?

Clark, Brian C. PhD; Manini, Todd M. PhD

^*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.

Corresponding Author: Brian C. Clark, PhD, OMNI & Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, 250 Irvine Hall, Athens, OH 45701 ([email protected]).

The case study presented in this work occurred during a research study that was supported by the Research in KAATSU Methodology initiative from the American College of Sports Medicine Foundation (to B.C.C.).

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Received August 31, 2015

Accepted January 01, 2016

Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine 27(1):p e1-e2, January 2017. | DOI: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000309

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.