Return 2 Fitness

Injury advice > Lower leg/Ankle Injuries > Lateral Compartment Syndrome

Lateral Compartment Syndrome

What is a compartment syndrome?

This condition can be acute or chronic. When the muscle gets too big for the sheath that contains it this causes pain and pressure and is known as compartment syndrome.

Symptoms of acute compartment syndrome:

  • Pain when walking or running.
  • A swelling or tenderness.

Treatment of acute compartment syndrome:

  • Rest is key to recovery.
  • Cold therapy
  • Visit a sports injury specialist

Visiting a sports injury specialist:

  • Ultrasound will help dissipate swelling.
  • A surgeon can operate to decompress the area.

Symptoms of chronic compartment syndrome:

Compartment syndrome mainly occurs in runners and comes on because the muscle has grown too big too quickly for the sheath that surrounds it. Symptoms include:

  • Pain that gradually comes on during a run, this gets worse until it is impossible to continue.
  • After a period of rest the pain disappears only to come back when the athlete tries to run again.

The causes of this can be training too much too quickly but you can also be more prone to this if you have laxity in your ankle ligaments (have you sprained your ankle badly or often?).

Treatment of chronic compartment syndrome:

  • Rest until pain has gone.
  • See a specialist for an accurate diagnosis There is a possibility that it is a chronic strain that has not been allowed to heal properly.
  • Use heat therapy.

Visiting a sports injury specialist:

  • Prescribe NSAIDs anti-inflammatory medication.
  • Use sports massage techniques to stretch the muscle sheath.
  • Operate.

Useful Products:

  • Cold therapy - apply ice or cold therapy to help ease pain and swelling

Please see the Virtual Sports Injury Clinic for more information on how to treat Lateral Compartment Syndrome and other lower leg injuries