Excessive swelling of the muscles exceeding the capacity of the surrounding sheath leads to pain in the lower leg, causing lateral compartment syndrome. This condition can occur acutely due to a direct injury or develop chronically over time.
What is the lateral compartment?
The lateral compartment of the lower leg consists of the peroneus brevis and peroneus longus muscles, either of which can cause compartment syndrome. This condition can be either acute, with sudden onset, or chronic, developing gradually over time.
Acute compartment syndrome
An impact or injury can lead to acute compartment syndrome, where bleeding and swelling within the muscle sheath cause excessive pressure due to the accumulated fluid.
Symptoms
Symptoms of lateral compartment syndrome include:
- Leg pain, particularly in the back, while walking or running.
- Swelling or tenderness along the outer calf muscle.
What Can the Athlete Do?
Immediate Action:
- If you experience intense pain, seek expert medical counsel promptly to prevent potential muscle and nerve damage from acute compartment syndrome.
Rest and Activity Modification:
- Rest until the pain alleviates, but consider upper-body workouts or painless swimming as alternatives to maintain fitness.
Cold Therapy:
- Apply cold therapy or ice for 20 minutes every two hours.
- Wrap the ice in a damp tea towel to prevent direct skin contact.
Remember, it is essential to consult with a medical professional for proper evaluation and personalized treatment recommendations. Using compression support helps reduce swelling and provides muscle support.
What can a sports injury specialist do?
Diagnostic Method: A professional therapist can perform compartment pressure tests, a diagnostic method for identifying compartment syndrome.
Swelling Relief Techniques: To alleviate swelling, techniques like ultrasound or other electrotherapy methods might be employed.
Pain and Inflammation Reduction: Prescribed anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, can help reduce pain and inflammation.
Surgical Decompression: In severe cases, surgical decompression procedures, performed by a surgeon, may be necessary for treatment.
Chronic compartment syndrome
Lateral compartment syndrome mainly occurs in runners. It occurs because the muscle has grown too big too quickly for the sheath that surrounds it.
Symptoms
Symptoms of lateral compartment syndrome include experiencing gradually increasing pain during a run, reaching a point where it becomes impossible to continue. After a period of rest, the pain temporarily subsides, only to return when the athlete tries to run again.
Causes
Excessive and rapid training or increased susceptibility from severe or recurrent ankle sprains often lead to lateral compartment syndrome. Ankle ligament laxity, a common consequence of these sprains, can amplify this effect.
Furthermore, biomechanical foot issues like overpronation or over-supination strain muscles excessively, thereby increasing the risk of chronic compartment syndrome.
What can the athlete do?
Take rest until the pain completely disappears. Consult a specialist to verify the diagnosis because you might be dealing with a chronic muscle strain that hasn’t had the chance to heal properly.
Upon a confirmed diagnosis of compartment syndrome, you may need to commit to a long rest period and rectify your foot biomechanics. This approach will enable the overgrown muscle to reduce in size, while allowing the sheath to adjust accordingly.
What can a specialist or doctor do?
Your doctor might recommend anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen. Utilizing sports massage techniques could effectively stretch your muscle sheath.
Cross-friction massage, in particular, offers a useful way to expand the sheath, paving the way for improved muscle function. Should symptoms persist or intensify, don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare professional immediately.
