What are the symptoms of anterior compartment syndrome?

• If caused by a blow there will obviously be a sharp pain in the muscle on the outside of the lower leg at that point.
• Weakness when trying to pull the foot upwards against resistance.
• The tibialis anterior may be swollen and tender.
• Pain when the foot and toes are bent downwards.

What can the athlete do?

• Rest, if possinbble exercise the upper body
• Cold therapy
• Visit a sports injury professional

What can a sports injury professional do?

• Prescribe NSAIDs anti-inflammatory medication e.g. ibuprofen.
• Correct any biomechanical disfunction with orthotic devices.
• Operate. They could make a small cut or two in the muscle sheath to allow the muscle to expand out.

What causes chronic anterior compartment syndrome?

• Over use and over developing the muscle through training.
• When exercising the blood vessels fill up, increasing pressure on the sheath and causing pain.
• The sheath becomes inelastic and unable to expand.

What are the symptoms of chronic compatment syndrome?

• Pain which increases during exercise which eventually makes running impossible.
• Pain goes after a short rest but comes back again during exercise.
• Difficulty in lifting the toes and foot up.
• Pain when pulling the toes and foot downwards.

How can the athlete treat this injury?

• Rest until there is no pain.
• Apply sports massage techniques to increase the elasticity of the muscle sheath.
• Apply heat and use a heat retainer.
• See a sports injury specialist.

Visiting a sports injury professional.

• Prescribe diuretics and anti-inflammatory medication.
• Analyse your training methods, running gait and types of shoe to determine any contributory factors.
• Use sports massage techniques to stretch the muscle sheath.
• Operate. They could make a small cut or two in the muscle sheath to allow the muscle to expand out.

Useful Products:

• Hot and cold therapy wraps - helps reduce pain and inflammation reducing pressure in the muscle compartment.
• Shin supports - Retains heat and provides compression to the lower leg.

Please see the Virtual Sports Injury Clinic for more information on how to treat Anterior Compartment Syndrome