What is compartment syndrome?
The compartment syndrome is a painful syndrome whose intensity increases with effort. Let's start with a little background to understand the origin of this pain. A muscle is made up of muscular tissue and connective tissue including blood vessels and nerves. It's enveloped in a fibrous membrane called the aponeurosis.
The compartment syndrome is caused by increased intra-tissue pressure of the lodge caused by intense effort. The volume of the muscle increases dramatically, while the membrane containing it is not extensible. Tissues are compressed, and this excessive restriction causes painful lesions. The athlete then has no choice but to stop his or her activity.
How do you recognize compartment syndrome?
Chronic compartment syndrome appears during exercise. It occurs always in the same place and after the same level of sporting intensity. It generally affects the calves or forearms, but can also occur in the arm, buttock or abdomen.
At rest, the clinical examination is relatively normal. Exercise test reveals pain and reveals significant tension in the lodge. Conventional imaging techniques cannot diagnose compartment syndrome, but they can help rule out other pathologies.
Only by measuring intramuscular pressure can a definitive diagnosis of compartment syndrome be made. This test is performed in three stages. A needle implanted in the compartment measures pressure first at rest, then 1 minute after exertion, and finally 5 minutes after exertion. Above-standard pressure after 5 minutes confirms the diagnosis.
What are the risk factors?
Chronic compartment syndrome mainly affects athletes who use the same muscles too often, with sustained activity of around 15 to 20 hours of training per week. calf which is the most common site. Certain sports increase the risk of developing compartment syndrome, such as:
- running, soccer, rollerblading, swimming with flippers or skiing are the most traumatic. for lower limbs
- windsurfing, water-skiing, rock-climbing and motocross, all expose you to the same risk. forearms
Men are more often affected by compartment syndrome, with the majority of sportsmen and women between the ages of 20 and 30.
Musicians and craftsmen who perform repeated, high-pressure movements on a daily basis may also be prone to compartment syndrome.
How to relieve compartment syndrome
First of all, it's important to consult your doctor as soon as the first symptoms appear, to rule out any risk of serious damage.
Functional compartment syndrome caused by excessive muscular effort can be relieved by natural and effective solutions. Here are some of them:
- Rest : start by stopping your sporting activity to rest your muscle. You'll then need to readjust your training, reduce the intensity and review the equipment used to balance the level of effort.
- Physiotherapy : by stretching, lymphatic drainage, massage and proprioception exercises can improve perfusion of the lodges.
- Lavandin super essential oil : Known for its calming properties, lavandin super essential oil helps reduce muscle tension. After exercise, massage the affected area to relieve muscle tension.
Compartment syndrome is a painful condition that can sometimes be difficult to diagnose.
