Tufts University Lacrosse Players Hospitalized After Workout With Navy SEAL

On September 16, 2024, several Tufts University men’s lacrosse players were hospitalized following a strenuous workout led by an unnamed Navy SEAL who is also a Tufts alumnus. The team is currently the Division III national champions in their sport.

The 45-minute voluntary session resulted in 12 of the 50 athletes developing rhabdomyolysis, a rare but dangerous condition in which muscle tissue breaks down, releasing proteins and enzymes into the bloodstream. This can lead to serious complications such as kidney damage or failure.

According to Patrick Collins, the university’s Executive Director for media relations, the SEAL was “a recent graduate of BUD/S.” BUD/S is the intense 24-week initial training program that candidates must complete before becoming Navy SEALs.

According to Rated Red, nine players were hospitalized, with some remaining under medical care for days. Tufts University quickly responded by suspending team practices and initiating an independent investigation to ensure the safety of its student-athletes. The investigation will assess the circumstances of the workout and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Rhabdomyolysis is not entirely unheard of in high-intensity training and has been previously linked to military-style workouts and collegiate athletics. And yes, it can result from a single session of an intense workout, especially in people who are new to high-intensity exercise. Rhabdomyolysis, or rhabdo, can occur more easily in those who are dehydrated and during hot and humid conditions. Exercises frequently associated with rhabdo include pushups, squats, and burpees. 

Symptoms of rhabdo include extreme muscle soreness, even after rest, dark brown urine, muscle swelling and weakness, nausea, and extreme fatigue. To prevent rhabdo, you’ll want to stay properly hydrated, take frequent breaks during periods of intense exercise, and ease into extremely strenuous exercise.

If rhabdo is diagnosed and treated early, outcomes are usually good, and most people fully recover. Don’t ignore it, however. Rhabdo is no joke. Left untreated, it can lead to acute kidney failure. Some people require dialysis treatments to remove toxins from their blood if kidney damage occurs.

Although all of the hospitalized lacrosse players from Tufts have since been discharged, the university is working to ensure the long-term well-being of its athletes. I think this means no more SEALs running workouts for a while. 

The president of the university, Sunil Kumar, has hired a lawyer and well known student athlete health expert to get to the bottom of exactly what happened to put his students in the hospital. Perhaps they fear lawsuits from the parents. In a statement to the press, he said:

“We want to express how grateful we are that the team members have returned to good health. We commend the team’s resilience, admire how they cared for one another during a difficult time, and thank their families for their unwavering support.” 

This situation raises important questions about the intensity of athletic training programs, particularly when influenced by military-style workouts, and highlights the need to carefully monitor student-athlete health during such rigorous sessions.

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