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After a college lacrosse team reported that several players experienced a severe muscle injury, experts are speaking about the condition. 

Tufts University in Massachusetts has launched an investigation after 12 members of the men’s lacrosse team were diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis — a rare, life-threatening muscle injury — following a 45-minute “voluntary, supervised” workout on Sept. 16.

A total of 50 athletes participated in the workout, which was led by a Tufts graduate who had recently completed Navy SEAL training, according to a statement sent to Fox News Digital on Monday.

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Nine were hospitalized for the condition.

As of Monday, three of the student athletes remained in the hospital and are “responding to treatment,” Tufts Spokesperson Patrick Collins said in the statement.

What is rhabdomyolysis?

Rhabdomyolysis — often referred to as “rhabdo” — is a rare injury that causes the muscles to break down and disintegrate, according to Cleveland Clinic.

It usually happens after a prolonged period of “excessive exercise,” trauma (injury), certain medications or an underlying health condition, the clinic noted.

The condition can be life-threatening because the muscle fibers can make their way into the bloodstream and kidneys, potentially causing kidney damage.

“Anyone leading a group or individual into strenuous training should be aware of the signs of dehydration and overexertion.”

Typical symptoms include muscle weakness, stiffness or pain, as well as changes in urine color, per Cleveland Clinic.

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“Rhabdomyolysis can lead to severe organ failure, cardiac arrhythmia or compartment syndrome, which could be fatal,” warned certified personal trainer Regis Pagett, the founder and owner of R Personal Fitness in New York City.

Goalie Conner Garzone #19 of the Tufts University Jumbos gets a save during the Division III Men’s Lacrosse Championship held at Lincoln Financial Field on May 26, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images)

IV therapy can be used to flush out toxins from the bloodstream, the expert said, but physical therapy and strength training would be needed to regain the lost muscle.

“It could take anywhere from a few weeks to months depending on the severity of symptoms,” he added.

Why were the athletes affected?

In the statement provided to Fox News Digital, Collins (the Tufts spokesperson) stated that the university is “addressing this matter with the utmost seriousness.”

“The university continues to closely monitor the condition of the team, and some individual team members have been medically cleared to resume training,” Collins said. 

“Having qualified coaches oversee intense training is necessary.”

“However, all team practices continue to be postponed until university medical personnel authorize their resumption.”

The university will appoint an independent investigator to “determine exactly what happened before, during and after the workout; assess the university’s response; and review its procedures and policies to determine what changes it should make to prevent this from happening again,” Collins added.

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“Meanwhile, we are closely monitoring the condition of the rest of the team and have postponed all team practice activities until each team member has been evaluated and medically cleared to return to participation.”

The university is unable to provide additional details until the investigation is complete, the statement said.

IV therapy can be used to flush out toxins from the bloodstream, but physical therapy and strength training would be needed to regain the muscle lost, an expert said. (iStock)

As the condition is not contagious, the fact that several of the Tufts lacrosse players were diagnosed “absolutely” suggests that the workout was too strenuous, according to Pagett.

“This is rare in athletes — overall, rhabdomyolysis is something more commonly seen in victims of physical trauma,” he told Fox News Digital.

It is also a “high possibility” that the affected team members were not properly hydrated, Pagett noted.

“Anyone leading a group or individual into strenuous training should be aware of the signs of dehydration and overexertion,” he said.

“Sometimes a competitive athlete will push themselves to finish through just about anything, but you have to know when to save the athletes from themselves.”

Tufts University Jumbos celebrate scoring during the Division III Men’s Lacrosse Championship held at Lincoln Financial Field on May 26, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Getty Images)

To prevent rhabdomyolysis, Pagett emphasized the importance of a “sound workout plan,” adequate hydration and proper post-workout care (nutrition, rest and supplementation).

“Having qualified coaches oversee intense training is necessary,” he added.

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“Leveraging people who have completed a training regimen, such as what happened in this case, doesn’t necessarily give them the knowledge needed to properly train others.”

Anyone experiencing symptoms of rhabdomyolysis should seek medical attention immediately.

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed reporting.

As many as 30% of children and teens across the world were nearsighted in 2023, a new study has revealed.

Diagnoses of nearsightedness (myopia) are expected to worsen over the next two decades, according to the findings, which were published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

By 2050, nearly 740 million young individuals worldwide are expected to have the condition, lead study author Dr. Yajun Chen, a professor at Sun Yat-sen University in China, told Fox News Digital.

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“The study also highlights significant disparities in myopia rates across different regions, suggesting that factors such as gender, ethnicity and culture play a crucial role,” he said.

“Understanding these variations is crucial for tailoring prevention and intervention strategies to specific at-risk populations.”

In the study, researchers analyzed 276 studies that included more than 5.4 million participants from 50 countries across all six continents. 

Rates of nearsightedness were highest in East Asia (35.22%), in urban areas (28.55%), among females (33.57%), among adolescents (47%) and among high school students (45.71%), the study found.

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Myopia can progress rapidly during critical growth periods, particularly in children and adolescents, Chen noted.

There was a significant spike in myopia after the COVID-19 pandemic, research has shown.

By 2050, nearly 740 million young individuals worldwide are expected to have myopia, the researchers found. (iStock)

“During the pandemic, many countries implemented nationwide lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus,” he said.

“Prolonged indoor living reduced outdoor activity for children and adolescents while increasing screen time, potentially exacerbating the ocular burden on this population and worsening the myopia crisis.”

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Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings.

“Diet may play a role, but I think the greatest reason for the increase, especially coming out of the pandemic, is due to lockdowns and being indoors more,” he told Fox News Digital.

“Untreated myopia can lead to more severe vision problems later in life.”

With increased screen time, kids and teens have fewer opportunities for the eye muscles to have to adapt, Siegel said.

“For example, going back and forth from looking close to looking far, and accommodating to light by going from indoors to outdoors, and talking to people in person — all of those exercise the small eye muscles that keep you from getting nearsighted,” he added.

Warnings of long-term effects

Dr. Jesse Willingham, an optometrist at Brighter Outlook Vision in North Charleston, South Carolina, warned that unaddressed vision problems can have several significant consequences for children, including academic problems, social and emotional struggles, behavioral issues and long-term eye health issues. 

I think the greatest reason for the increase, especially coming out of the pandemic, is due to lockdowns and being indoors more,” one medical expert told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“We all understand that being able to see clearly is important for school, but there are many different visual skills we need for learning,” Willingham, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

“Nearsightedness is the most common developmental vision problem, but early vision problems can start with tracking difficulties, poor ability to adapt the focus of the eyes or use the two eyes as a team, or other functional problems that arise from too much stress on the visual system at an early age,” he added.

Study limitations

The study did have some limitations, Chen acknowledged.

“The major limitation of the included studies is the disparity in the designs and methods utilized,” he said.

Parents should ensure that their children receive regular eye examinations starting at a young age, the researcher recommended.  (iStock)

“The quality of included epidemiologic studies varied significantly within and among the reviews, ranging from high to low risk of bias.”

There is also a possibility of “uneven distribution of data” among countries within any given continent, Chen said.

“As a result, our reported findings might be biased because they were mainly influenced by data from a limited number of countries.”

Studies included in the analysis also varied in terms of criteria and procedures for assessing nearsightedness, Chen noted.

Bringing solutions into view

Creating a supportive environment at home and in schools can encourage children to adopt healthy habits that protect their vision, the researchers said.

Unaddressed vision problems can have several significant health consequences for children, a doctor cautioned. (iStock)

Experts offered the following interventions to help reduce the prevalence of myopia among youth.

1. Promote outdoor activities

Families should prioritize outdoor playtime, Chen recommended.

“Schools can organize outdoor activities and encourage sports, creating a culture that values physical engagement and natural light exposure,” he said.

2. Manage screen time

For very young children who haven’t started school yet, Willingham recommends only allowing screen time when video-chatting with friends and family. 

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“For school-aged children, matching screen time one-to-one with outdoor time and limiting screen sessions to no more than 20 minutes at a time are good rules of thumb,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“Also make sure screen time is done ergonomically, with screens held at least 12 inches away and done while maintaining good posture.”

3. Schedule regular eye exams

Parents should ensure that their children receive regular eye examinations starting at a young age, Chen recommended. 

With increased screen time, kids and teens have fewer opportunities for the eye muscles to have to adapt, a doctor noted. (Getty Images)

“Early detection and intervention is crucial, as untreated myopia can lead to more severe vision problems later in life,” he said. 

“It’s also beneficial to stay informed about new treatments and technologies aimed at slowing myopia progression, such as specialized contact lenses and eye drops.”

It’s important to choose an eye care provider who understands visual development, according to Willingham. 

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“Developmental optometrists have more training and experience in this area, and are typically affiliated with OVDRA, the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association,” he said.

“If your child is at high risk of developing nearsightedness or is already nearsighted, consider finding a myopia management specialist through organizations like TreeHouse Eyes.”

4. Participate in community initiatives

Engaging with community programs aimed at preventing myopia, such as vision screening events or educational outreach, can help reduce the prevalence, according to Chen.

“Prolonged indoor living reduced outdoor activity for children and adolescents while increasing screen time, potentially exacerbating the ocular burden on this population and worsening the myopia crisis,” one eye doctor said. (iStock)

Integrating vision education into school curricula and supporting public health campaigns focused on myopia prevention can also be effective, he added.

“By taking these proactive steps, everyone can contribute to reducing the prevalence of myopia and promoting healthier vision for children and adolescents,” Chen said.