What about compartment syndrome?

[burta]

Hey there,

Is compartment syndrome (http://www.compartmentsyndrome.net) a frequent complication from this kind of training?

[Flexxx]

I don't post much on here and spend most time reading, but this is something that I have personal experience with.

My brother was involved in a bad accident and developed acute compartment syndrome from blunt force trauma to his legs. This resulted in the muscles swelling to such a degree against the fascia that he needed to procedure called a fasciaotomy to prevent the muscle from cutting off its own circulation and making the situation worse . This is a nice way of saying cutting big long cuts along the entire calf to allow the muscle to swell more. Even a year later there is still swelling.

The other type of compartment syndrome is chronic, this is what runners often get. Often it is in the slow twitch muscles like forearm and calf. This still needs treatment as it can develop to a much worse situation.

Either case, if you think you have it definately talk to a doctor about it.

[Doryphorus]

From my sports injuries prof's class notes:

Anterior Compartment Syndrome:

Injury:
- Compression of deep peroneal nerve and anterior tibial artery supplying the muscles of the anterior compartment
- Can cause muscle constriction and ischemia as a result of compression which can lead to permanent disability

History/Mechanism:
-Due to a fixed vlume of the compartment, the structures within it are vulnerable to compression during activity when blood engorges the active muscle, or when the compartment suffers a direct acute trauma and either bleeding or swelling occurs within the compartment, leading to an increase in intra-compartmental pressure
- Pressure collapse/blocks the supplying nerve resulting in oxygen deficiency
- Compression of deep peroneal nerve occurs resulting in numbness and dysfunction of the anterior muscles possibly leading to foot drop (meaning you're unable to point your toes toward your face when it's aggravated)

Clinical Signs & Symptoms:
- Altered sensation in lower leg anteriorly eg. numbness, pain
- Muscle weakness
- Feeling of tightness in anterior lower leg during exercise
- Possible foot drop

Treatment:
- Rest, Ice, Elevation -> do not apply compression
- Refer to medical attention for compartmental pressure testing with exercise and/or xray/bone scan to rule out other possible causes such as stress fracture
- Correct possible training errors or intrinsic factors such as malalignment, muscle imbalances, or inadequate flexibility
- As a last resort, the athlete may need to get surgical release (fasciotomy) of the compartment

[trainharder]

I had symptoms of it during my last cycle due to water retention, lack of flexibility in my calves and a strength imbalance between the front and the back of my calves.

Make sure you work your tibialis anterior muscle.

[Doryphorus]

I had symptoms of it during my last cycle due to water retention, lack of flexibility in my calves and a strength imbalance between the front and the back of my calves.

Make sure you work your tibialis anterior muscle.

I used to get it as well from a muscle imbalance between my calves/tib anterior, and weighted toe-lifts helped get rid of it pretty much completely. I don't remember exactly how long it took to get rid of the pain, but I haven't had any issues in over 2 years now.