ST. JOHN’S — Newfoundland and Labrador’s health authority has issued a public warning about a worrisome number of rhabdomyolysis cases caused by intense exercise.

The conditions can cause muscles to break down and lead to kidney damage, and the authority has confirmed 20 cases in the eastern part of the province in the past six months.

Emergency physician Dr. Richard Barter says doctors typically expect to see a few cases a year.

Barter, who is a clinical chief of emergency medicine with the health authority, says the majority of the patients have been women between 19 and 30 years old.

In an interview, he said the patients’ histories suggest a culture of “extreme” working out is driving the spike in rhabdomyolysis, which is also known as “rhabdo.”

He says there is a “competitive jousting” on social media driving people to do harder, longer workouts or take multiple spin classes a day.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2026.

The Canadian Press