How to train a client who had Rhabdomyolysis

The Show Up Fitness Podcast

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The fitness industry has a dark secret that qualified trainers need to address head-on: exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis. This potentially life-threatening condition, once primarily associated with catastrophic events or extreme military training, has become disturbingly common in regular gym settings due to unqualified trainers pushing clients too hard, too fast.
This eye-opening episode tackles a real case study of a 38-year-old client who developed rhabdomyolysis after just her second session with a previous trainer. What should have been a routine workout turned into a five-day hospital stay with dangerously elevated creatine kinase levels of 10,000 (normal post-exercise levels might reach 600-700). The culprit? A punishing 90-minute session filled with high-repetition exercises, minimal rest, and culminating in exhaustive rowing - a perfect recipe for disaster.
We break down exactly how qualified trainers should approach clients with fitness trauma, beginning with the crucial first workout. You'll discover the specific exercise selection, rep schemes, and rest periods that rebuild trust while still creating an effective session. The detailed programming walkthrough demonstrates how to gradually increase intensity over subsequent sessions while ensuring the client feels safe and successful.
What makes this case particularly powerful is the outcome: through proper progression and client-centered training, this traumatized client stayed with the qualified trainer for over three years. The key wasn't just physical programming but psychological understanding - acknowledging fears, educating about exercise physiology, and prioritizing the client relationship over ego-driven "tough" workouts.
Whether you're a personal trainer looking to level up your skills or a fitness enthusiast wanting to understand what separates qualified professionals from dangerous ones, this episode delivers actionable insights that could prevent injury and pot

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Chapters

1. Introduction to Show Up Fitness Podcast (00:00:00)

2. Understanding Rhabdomyolysis in Fitness (00:00:26)

3. Client's Traumatic Rhabdo Experience (00:02:41)

4. Proper Trainer Response to Past Trauma (00:05:55)

5. First Workout Design for Post-Rhabdo Client (00:09:59)

6. Building Trust Through Proper Progression (00:14:38)

7. Long-Term Success and Client Relationship (00:18:46)

8. Episode Closing and Certification Promotion (00:20:24)