Compartment Syndrome
By
Chris Graff
of
Trackcoach.com
Compartment Syndrome in the legs is a problem that many
runners suffer from. It is caused by muscle swelling or increased
osmotic pressure in the muscles, and can result in pain, swelling,
and motor loss or weakness. The swelling is induced by activity,
especially the muscle activity associated with running.
Each leg contain four osseofacial compartments which are
surrounded by fairly inelastic facial covering. This means that each
group of muscles is surrounded by a thin, inelastic sheath. Within
each compartment, there is a major nerve. When the muscles swell
beyond the elasticity of the sheath surrounding them, the pressure
is felt on the major nerves in the area. As exercise continues in
duration, the muscle continues to swell up to its maximum volume.
However since the sheath can not expand, the pressure within the
compartment continues to increase. The pain can become unbearable
and exercise must cease in some cases. In other cases the nerves are
pinched to the extent that the feet and lower legs go numb and
become basically inoperative.
Knowing that you have compartment syndrome can be a tricky
process. Often pain associated with the shins and calves is
misdiagnosed as a stress fracture. A bone Scan is a good idea to
rule out any problems with the bones. An MRI may help to diagnose
the problem, but is often not conclusive. The key to recognizing
compartment syndrome is motor loss, as it is the most unique
characteristic. The final way to diagnose the problem is to measure
the intercompartmental pressure, done with a needle which is slid
into the compartment, and a hand held pressure measurement
device.
