What is Anterior Compartment Syndrome?
Anterior Compartment Syndrome occurs due to raised pressure within the anterior compartment(Group of the muscles enclosed in a single fascia) of the lower leg (front of the tibia).
Pressure rises as a result of:
- bleeding,
- swelling in the tibialis anterior muscle resulting from Direct trauma (causing swelling within the compartment),
- Fracture,
- Soft tissue injury,
- Muscle volume & size rapidly increases within a compartment,
- Also, Vigorous exercise.
Symptoms of Anterior compartment syndrome are such:
- Pain along the front of the leg.
- tight, cramping, or squeezing pain (shin pain).
- Pain induces due to exercise and does not go away until you stop exercising.
- If the swelling causes the compression of the nerve you may also experience paraesthesia & weakness (you will feel difficulty in elevating your foot).
- Also, there may be foot drops seen in severe cases.
Physiotherapy treatments:
- stop the activity that aggravates the symptoms, and keep the affected limb elevated while sleeping,
- Crutch walking training,
- Partial weight-bearing exercises,
- Assisted Range of Motion exercises for affected leg (knee, ankle, and toes),
- Apply ICE,
- Therapeutic Ultrasound therapy,
- Kinesio Taping (anterior compartment syndrome taping can provide relief from pain by supporting the muscle as well as reducing swelling),
- Orthotic inserts (it will correct the biomechanics of the lower limb and reduce the excess load from the tibialis anterior muscle),
- Soft tissue massage,
- Postural realignment,
- Hydrotherapy,
- Stretching exercise,
- In addition, Exercises such as static cycling (which is good for cardiovascular health without exaggerating symptoms),
- Also, Iso-kinetic muscle strengthening exercise.
The condition can be corrected surgically in some severe cases. A common surgical treatment for anterior compartment syndrome is Fasciotomy, in which the surgeon cuts the fascia and opens it to relieve the pressure.
After the fasciotomy, there is a requirement for physiotherapy rehabilitation for regaining ROM, & muscular strength. & Elite Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Centre is the place where the best manual therapy and the latest therapeutic modalities are used for patient holistic treatment.
