MASON CITY,IA-Local trainers are asking how far is too far?Well you know it’s tough when a muscle disorder called rhabdmyolysis is the result.
It's a breakdown of muscle fibers resulting in the release of muscle fiber contents into the bloodstream.
University of Iowa school officials say all of the players are in safe and stable condition.
But many are wondering how hard they must have been working for something like this to happen.
Training is part of the job of being a college athlete.
But local trainers are in shock over what's happening at the University of Iowa.
Thirteen Iowa football players are in the hospital for a muscle disorder caused by excessive exercise.
NIACC Athletic Trainer Mark Vrba says, "I was really surprised by it because its seems like such a rare thing. You don't hear about it and for it to happen to 13 guys on the same team, right at the same time just goes to show that they we're probably doing some super intense activity."
There's no question training as a college athlete is tough.
It's a lot of work and being sore is just part of it.
One former football player knows the demands of the job.
Clint Thomas says, "there we're several times I would leave a workout and throw up. I mean it would work you that hard."
Many believe there is a lot of pressure on players to be the best.
Thomas knows a lot has changed since his day, but the workouts have always been intense.
He says, "but when you’re competing at a division one level not only are they trying to make you better physically, but I think they are also testing you mentally to see how mentally tough you can be."
Vrba says it’s important to keep communication open between coaches and athletes.
He says that can keep workouts from turning dangerous.
Vrba says, "if athletes are not communicating with you and telling you now I’m getting really sore or I can't move my legs or things like that there's no way for you to know."
As a trainer he knows just how difficult it is to balance pushing players and making sure they are safe.
He believes it should be injury prevention first and everything else later.
Vrba says, "whoever comes up with the strength training program or the conditioning program needs to have an idea of what they are doing. Needs to know there taking the athletes best interest into consideration."
There are still many factors that we don't know about to determine just what caused so many players to be hospitalized at the same time.
The university released a statement today saying their first priority is the students well-being.
They will be conducting an investigation into what led to this.
They are hoping to learn what went on this time, so it will never happen again.
