Multiple members of the men’s lacrosse team at Tufts University were hospitalized last week with a life-threatening muscle condition after doing a Navy SEAL-style workout, the school confirmed.
Following a team workout on Monday, Sept. 16, 12 members of the university men’s lacrosse team were diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo), a potentially life-threatening muscle disorder, university spokesperson Patrick Collins confirmed to PEOPLE. Five of those players required hospitalization.
Collins said that the voluntary, supervised 45-minute workout was led by a Tufts alum who is also a Navy SEAL training graduate. The university said that around 50 team members participated in the workout, and added that the number of confirmed cases and hospitalizations could change.
Collins said that the hospitalized team members are currently receiving care from medical professionals. “Our thoughts are with the players and their families, and we are hoping for their quick return to good health under the care of local medical experts,” he said.
“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,” he continued.
Tufts University plans to investigate the incident, Collins said, and will “conduct a thorough review as quickly as possible, with a goal of taking any steps needed to support the safety of our student-athletes.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rhabdo is a potentially life-threatening medical condition that occurs “when damaged muscle tissue releases its proteins and electrolytes into the blood,” often from heat or overuse. The muscle tissue breaks down and releases a dangerous protein called creatine kinase into the blood, but the condition is treatable, typically with IVs to flush the proteins out of a patient’s system, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
