Sickle Cell Trait and Rhabdomyolysis Awareness

People with Sickle Cell Trait (SCT) can participate in sports, exercise, military training, and other strenuous physical activities.

The goal is not to create fear.

The goal is to KNOW.

Know your genetics.
Know your body.
Know the conditions.
Know the warning signs.
Know when something isn’t right.

Every athlete is different.

Every service member is different.

Every firefighter, law-enforcement officer, fitness participant, student-athlete and physically active person brings their own body, genetics, conditioning, health, environment and circumstances into strenuous activity.

Sickle Cell Trait is an important part of that conversation—but it isn’t the only conversation.

The question is:

What could make THIS individual more susceptible to an exercise-related medical emergency or rhabdomyolysis?

That’s why knowing your health and genetic information matters.

Know Your Sickle Cell Status

Sickle Cell Trait is not Sickle Cell Disease.

A person with SCT inherits one sickle hemoglobin gene and one normal hemoglobin gene.

Most people with SCT live normal, active lives.

However, under certain extreme physiological conditions, SCT can become relevant to exercise safety.

Start by asking:

Do I know my sickle cell status?

If I have SCT, do I understand what that means?

Do the people responsible for my safety know how to recognize an emergency?

Know the Conditions

Exercise-related illness doesn’t happen simply because someone has Sickle Cell Trait.

Several circumstances can place additional physiological stress on the body.

Important considerations include:

• Sudden increases in exercise intensity
• Extreme or sustained exertion
• Inadequate conditioning
• Insufficient recovery
• Heat and humidity
• Dehydration
• Exercising while sick
• Changes in altitude
• Inadequate acclimatization
• Certain medications, stimulants, supplements or other substances that may affect exercise tolerance

Preparation is prevention.

Gradually increase conditioning. Hydrate appropriately. Allow recovery. Acclimatize to environmental changes. Don’t ignore illness or physical distress.

Listen to Your Body

Your body communicates.

Exercise-related distress can look different from person to person.

Warning signs may include:

Muscle weakness

Unusual muscle pain, burning or tenderness

Cramping

Rapid breathing

Feeling overheated

Difficulty cooling

Unusual or prolonged fatigue/exhaustion

Loss of normal physical performance

And with rhabdomyolysis, symptoms can also include significant muscle pain or weakness and dark-colored urine.

Don’t wait for collapse before deciding something is wrong.

An athlete shouldn’t have to prove that they are hurting enough to stop.

STOP • REPORT • REST • RESPOND

A culture of toughness should never prevent someone from reporting a potential medical emergency.

When someone develops signs of serious physical distress during strenuous activity: 

STOP

Stop the activity.

REPORT

Tell the coach, athletic trainer, cadre, supervisor or medical professional what you’re experiencing.

REST

Don’t attempt to “push through” unexplained physical distress.

RESPOND

Follow the organization’s emergency action plan and seek appropriate medical evaluation when symptoms are severe, worsening, or not resolving.

Never use exercise as punishment for someone already showing physical distress.

Athlete Safety Is Bigger Than Sickle Cell Trait

One of the most important lessons from SCT education is that many good safety practices benefit everyone, regardless of SCT status.

Proper conditioning.

Appropriate hydration.

Recovery.

Acclimatization.

Emergency planning.

Recognizing physical distress.

Allowing athletes to communicate symptoms.

Responding instead of assuming someone is simply tired, weak or unmotivated.

Protecting the athlete with SCT can teach us how to better protect ALL athletes. 

My conversation begins with Sickle Cell Trait, but it doesn’t end there.

Rhabdomyolysis can affect people with and without SCT.

That leads to a larger prevention question:

What makes YOU susceptible?

Genetics may be one part.

Environment may be another.

Exercise intensity, conditioning, illness, heat, hydration, medications or substances and individual physiology may also matter.

Instead of waiting until after an emergency to ask 

“What happened?”, we should be asking beforehand:

“What do we know about this person?”

Awareness gives us information.

Education gives us understanding.

Prevention gives us an opportunity to act on what we know.

Don’t wait for an emergency to begin learning about yourself.

Learn more about rhabdomyolysis:

Rhabdo.info

Farron Dozier, SFC, Retired ARMY

Sickle Cell Trait & Rhabdomyolysis Advocate • Speaker • Educator

For more than 16 years, Farron Dozier has educated communities about Sickle Cell Trait, physical activity, athlete safety and rhabdomyolysis.

His advocacy grew from personal experience with exertional rhabdomyolysis during military physical training and developed into an educational mission reaching audiences throughout California, other states and internationally.

Speaking Topics

Sickle Cell Trait & Physical Activity

Know Your Genetics. Know Your Risk.

Rhabdomyolysis Awareness & Prevention

What Makes THIS Athlete Susceptible?

Athlete, Coach & Parent Education

Military & Tactical Athlete Education

Speaking Audiences

Schools • Colleges & Universities • Athletic Programs • Coaches • Parents • Student-Athletes • Military • Law Enforcement • Fire Services • Fitness Organizations • Healthcare & Public Health • Conferences • Community Organizations • International Organizations