Exercise-Induced Compartment Syndrome

Exercise-induced compartment syndrome is a muscle and nerve condition that causes pain, swelling and even disability in the muscles of your arms or legs. If left untreated, the pain and disability associated with this syndrome, also known as chronic exertional compartment syndrome, can stop you from doing the activities you love.

Inova Sports Medicine specialists understand that you value your active lifestyle. We have expertise in diagnosing and treating exercise-induced compartment syndrome in elite athletes and casual walkers alike. Together, we help you return to your daily activities or sports, pain free.

Specialized care for exercise-induced compartment syndrome

Exercise-induced compartment syndrome can affect any limb, but it is most common in the lower legs. It occurs most often in competitive athletes under 30 years old in sports that involve repetitive weight-bearing impact – long distance running, basketball, skiing and soccer.

You may mistake this condition for shin splint injuries, an inflammation of the muscles. Because exercise-induced compartment syndrome can be tricky to diagnose, it is important to come to a dedicated sports medicine center. Our experts recognize the signs and symptoms of this condition so we can get you an accurate diagnosis and start the treatment you need.

At our center, you will find:

• Expert team: Our primary care sports medicine physicians and fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons are at your side from your initial evaluation through treatment and follow-up care.
• Advanced diagnosis: We offer a range of diagnostic imaging services to assess your injury promptly and accurately. Our physicians have specialized training in using ultrasound for diagnosing musculoskeletal conditions. We provide imaging scans right here at our center.
• Personalized treatment plans: Each patient has a unique set of circumstances and preferences. We talk to you about your overall medical history, activity level and health goals so we can tailor appropriate treatment for you.
• Rehabilitation support: Our team includes physical therapists and athletic trainers certified in sports medicine. They will create a rehabilitation plan that focuses on restoring your strength, safely and effectively. For your convenience, you can have physical therapy at our expansive facility or at one of our regional centers.

Diagnosing exercise-induced compartment syndrome at Inova Sports Medicine

An accurate diagnosis is the first step to effective treatment. Our diagnosis includes:

• Assessment: We provide careful and thorough assessments to determine the cause of your discomfort and rule out other causes of your symptoms.
• Testing: Compartment pressure testing can confirm exercise-induced compartment syndrome. To do this, we inject an anesthetic into your leg. You hop or move your foot up and down for 1-2 minutes. This motion builds up muscle pressure. We insert the pressure monitoring needle and measure the pressure in your legs during the next 10 minutes.
• Consultation: At our center, you can meet with our team of sports medicine physicians and orthopaedic surgeons to discuss the best options for treatment and recovery.

Surgery for exercise-induced compartment syndrome

Surgery is the primary treatment for chronic exercise-induced compartment syndrome. Surgery relieves the pressure in the compartment by cutting or removing the connective tissue that prevents it from expanding in response to exercise.

If traditional pain-relief recommendations such as medication, rest or changing your routine or body mechanics do not bring relief, we may recommend a consultation with one of our orthopaedic surgeons.

Make an appointment

For more information or to make an appointment, please call 703-970-6464.