Can You Rupture Your Spleen During Weightlifting?

The spleen is an organ just under the lower ribcage, on the left side of the abdomen. Although not essential to life, the spleen helps to supress infection, create blood cells and destroy old blood cells. The spleen is a delicate organ covered in a layer of connective tissue called the splenic capsule. A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency that can lead to severe internal bleeding.

Functions of the Spleen

The spleen contains large numbers of white blood cells to fight infection. Like a large lymph node, it synthesizes antibodies and removes bacteria from the bloodstream. The spleen also acts as a filter for old or damaged red blood cells, removing them from circulation and recycling the iron within. The spleen also stores blood as an emergency reserve.

Effects of Splenic Rupture

Rupture of the spleen is likely to cause severe internal bleeding. Pain, sometimes severe, will occur on the left side of your abdomen and left shoulder. As blood leaks out into the abdomen, your blood pressure will drop, causing dizziness, blurred vision, confusion and unconciousness. Your heart rate will increase and, if untreated, the body will go into shock from blood loss and death will occur.

Causes of Splenic Rupture

The most common cause of splenic rupture is blunt force trauma. Generally this occurs in a motor vehicle accident or in contact sports, in which a direct blow to the spleen is sustained. Otherwise, splenic rupture may be secondary to an infection or another medical condition. The most common diseases implicated in splenic rupture are infectious mononucleosis, maleria and certain types of lymphoma.

Although extremely rare, a sudden increase in abdominal pressure can cause spontaneous splenic rupture. It is highly unlikely that you could produce enough internal abdominal pressure while lifting weights to rupture your spleen. Doctors recommend that patients recovering from mononucleosis avoid weightlifting, due to risk of splenic rupture.

Treatment for Splenic Rupture

Generally, the treatment for a major splenic rupture is removal of the organ. The spleen is not essential for life and may be removed. This is not, however, without consequences. The lack of a spleen leaves you open to various life-threatening infections.

Today, many doctors do not remove the spleen for minor splenic ruptures. Research has shown that the spleen has the ability to heal small ruptures.