The perils of spinning class: an open ankle fracture following a spinning exercise session

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of exertional rhabdomyolysis after indoor spinning: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

An increasing number of patients are diagnosed with exertional rhabdomyolysis secondary to indoor spinning. We performed a systematic review to characterize the clinical features of this new clinical entity.

METHODS

We conducted a thorough literature search on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). Articles published from inception to 23 June 2021 were considered. A two-stage article selection process was performed. Articles that reported clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with spin-induced exertional rhabdomyolysis (SIER) were included. Quality assessment was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklists.

RESULTS

There were a total of 22 articles and 97 patients with SIER. Most patients were healthy females who had attended their first spinning session. The mean time to clinical presentation was 3.1 ± 1.5 days. The most common presenting symptoms were myalgia, dark urine, and muscle weakness in the thighs. Seven patients (7.2%) developed acute kidney injury, and two patients (2.1%) required temporary inpatient hemodialysis. Four patients (4.1%) developed thigh compartment syndrome and required fasciotomies. No long-term sequelae or mortality were observed. The mean length of stay was 5.6 ± 2.9 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Healthcare professionals must have a high index of suspicion for SIER when a patient presents with myalgia, dark urine, or weakness after a recent episode of indoor spinning. Fitness center owners, spinning instructors, and participants should also be better educated about the clinical features and manifestations of SIER.

Health Benefits of Indoor Cycling: A Systematic Review

Background and Objectives: Indoor cycling is one of the most practiced activities in fitness centers for most people regardless of their physical conditioning level. Several studies have analyzed the effect of indoor cycling on several parameters related to health, such as maximal oxygen consumption, blood pressure, body composition, as well as biochemical markers such as HDL or LDL. However, no study has synthesized all health benefits associated with the indoor cycling practice in the form of a systematic review and established guidelines or recommendations. Therefore, the aim of this manuscript was to conduct a systematic review of published studies about the benefits of indoor cycling training and to establish recommendations for coaches, researchers, and practitioners. Materials and Methods: The PRISMA guidelines were followed to conduct the current systematic review. A systematic search was performed to retrieve relevant published articles until January 2019 using the following keywords: ‘indoor cycling’, ‘indoor bicycle’, and ‘spinning exercise’. Information about participants, intervention, comparisons, outcomes, and study design (PICOS) was extracted. Results: A total of 300 studies were initially identified. After the revision process, 13 of them were included. The total sample size of the studies was 372 (306 women). Results revealed that indoor cycling may improve aerobic capacity, blood pressure, lipid profile, and body composition. These enhancements may be achieved as standalone intervention or combined with other physical exercises or diet. Conclusions: The combination of indoor cycling and diet is recommended to improve the lipid profile, lose weight, and reduce blood pressure. Furthermore, indoor cycling alone may also enhance aerobic capacity. Given the lack of randomized controlled trials, these conclusions should be taken with caution.