Abstract

Intramuscular pressure, fiber type distribution, relative cross-sectional area of slow-twitch muscle fibers, muscle lactate, and water content were studied in eight patients with medial tibial syndrome and in eight patients with chronic anterior compartment syndrome. The variables were determined before and after standardized exercise that provoked lower leg pain. The findings indicate that the chronic anterior compartment syndrome is related to changes on the muscle fiber level and to a subsequently changed anaerobic metabolism and fluid infiltration. The medial tibial syndrome may be caused by abnormal biomechanics during running that by means of local adaptation causes changes in fiber types and local metabolic and microcirculatory capacities. Verf.-Referat