Muscle Function in Chronic Compartment Syndrome of the Leg

Franca L. Varelas, Douglas B. Clement, D. Lynn Doyle, J. Preston Wiley, Jean Wessel

Paper submitted before conversion to SI units was required.

Chronic compartment syndrome (CCS) is a recognized cause of recurrent leg pain in the exercising patient. Decreased muscle function has been implied in this condition. This study compared the ankle dorsiflexion torque of 10 CCS patients with that of 18 control subjects during 20 repeated, maximal, isokinetic contractions at 60°/sec. Peak torque, relative peak torque, and endurance data were collected. Results showed significantly lower peak torque and relative peak torque in the CCS group (p ≤ 0.05), supporting the implication of muscle weakness in CCS. Paradoxically, endurance was significantly higher in the CCS group (p ≤ 0.01), and there was a significant (p ≤ 0.01), negative correlation (r = -0.50) between peak torque and endurance. The relationship between the findings and CCS is discussed. Strengthening may be useful in very mild cases or in postfasciotomy patients.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1993;18(5):586-589.

Key Words: anterior compartment syndrome, muscle strength, dorsiflexors

 

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