Is it really tibial compartment syndrome?

A hockey player who had tibial
compartment syndrome

It looks like "tibial compartment syndrome" is making a popularity comeback!  Some things come and go and this one, characterised by severe and sometimes disabling pain in the calf muscles, is no exception.

Here is an article I wrote several years ago explaining tibial compartment syndrome:
http://voices.yahoo.com/what-tibial-compartment-syndrome-runners-164380.html?cat=14

Of course there are genuine cases of tibial compartment syndrome; but, in my opinion, most cases have been incorrectly diagnosed as such.  Most are really cases of severe muscle soreness.  All recent cases that I have seen are female athletes.

Its very important that the diagnosis is correct otherwise the treatment may be completely inappropriate, useless, disfiguring and even disabling.  Treatment of tibial compartment syndrome may begin with acupuncture which may give temporary relief.  It may progress to prolotherapy or steroid injections which are next to useless (in my opinion).  When that fails, then there is still surgery to split open the muscle fascia to allow the muscles to bulge out.  These therapies are disappointing in most cases, other than the use of surgery in an acute emergency.  For chronic cases, the compulsory rest associated with surgery is probably the main driver for recovery.

Some of the "Moller" legs.  Calf muscles require
regular deep tissue massage to help them
withstand the rigours of active lifestyles.

For non-tibial compartment syndrome cases of severe, chronic calf pain the treatment is non-invasive, very safe and remarkably effective.

First: "Why is this ailment apparently more common in women than men?"

It comes down to weak collagen which means the connective tissues in the calf muscle is more easily damaged during activities like running.  Women commonly have weaker collagen due to oestrogen dominance.  Read more about this here: http://blog.garymoller.com/2012/07/why-do-some-women-bruise-more-than.html

How to relieve non-tibial compartment syndrome calf pain

• Deep tissue massage of the affected muscles once a week (if done right the relief by about the 3rd session can be no less than dramatic).
• Nutrition strategies to improve collagen strength.  Exactly what is done depends on the results of nutrition testing.
• Where appropriate, changes may be made to a woman's contraception choice to reduce the adverse effects of hormone imbalances.
• Exercises to strengthen the muscles that maintain foot posture. (refer video - wow! 290,000 views and climbing).
• Graduated return to running, keeping distances down, avoiding excess downhill and uphill running.
• Running only every 2nd or 3rd day until 100% free of any discomfort.

_______________________________________

About this website

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation.  Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

London Marathon 2009 - Feedback from a Happy Camper

Hi Gary,

Well I've managed to finish in one piece, so I'm quite relieved! 2.53 was the final time. I held 4min kms comfortably for the first half (halfway in 1.25ish), but tiredness (or more precisely lack of fitness) came on quite quickly around 25km, so it was grovelling time from there to the finish.

Photo: Lorraine Moller winning the first London Marathon: An all women event, organised by Wellington, New Zealand, resident, Kathryn Switzter.  The intention of this event was to demonstrate to the IOC that the women's marathon was an event worthy of inclusion in the Olympics.  Female runners were finally allowed to run the Olympic marathon at Los Angeles 1984 where Lorraine finished 5th.  The London Marathon has gone on to become a truly international spectacle.

Very sore quads in the last 10km, so I'm going to need a wheelchair for the next few days! Pleasingly the calves held up well. Got moments of tightness every now and then, but to my huge relief I was able to run through it and it passed. So fingers crossed that I've got over these calf
problems and can look forward to some training this winter.

London marathon is an incredible event. I would put equal with New York. Every marathoner must do one of these events in their marathon career.  Masses of people, both running and supporting. Superb organisation.

I can't thank you enough! You got me to the start line (when 4 weeks ago I had given up all hope) and I was able to run all the way. Thank you, thankyou, thank you!

I will be back to see you when I return. I suspect my quads will need a lot of work over the coming months.

Cheers, Todd

______________________________

Gary comments:

Despite not being able to run with jsut four weeks to go, I never doubted that Todd would make the start line: It was only a matter of how fast he would be able to run and the condition he would be in at the finish.

Treatment up untill he came to see me consisted of a number of months of physiotherapy plus massage.  Interestingly, his calf injury was suspisciously close to the fitting of $400 orthotics which I replaced with a pair of Formthotics Shock Stop.  Treatment was simple:

• Formthotics Shock Stop inner soles.
• Foot pronation exercises.
• Replacement of various nutrients that he appeared to be low in and that might be slowing healing and reducing exercise capacity.
• Massage of the calf muscle and all the running muscles.

To my advantage is a lifetime of intense sport and a dozen sub-3hr marathons myself; so I knew what was involved which sure does help with zeroing in on the problems and sorting them out without wasted time, effort and money.  

Far too much medicine, including most orthotics is hit and miss stuff.

Your email address:


Powered by FeedBlitz

Do you have a question?
Email Gary: gary at myotec.co.nz (Replace the "at" with @ and remove spaces). Please include any relevant background information to your question.