Chronic exertional compartment syndrome

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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Certain factors increase your risk of developing chronic exertional compartment syndrome, including:

  • Age. Although people of any age can develop chronic exertional compartment syndrome, the condition is most common in athletes under 30.
  • Type of exercise. Exercise that involves repetitive impact activity — such as running or fast walking — increases your risk of developing the condition.
  • Overtraining. Working out too intensely or too frequently also can raise your risk of chronic exertional compartment syndrome.
  • Certain drugs. Taking anabolic steroids or the supplement creatine may increase the water content and mass of a muscle segment, contributing to the development of chronic exertional compartment syndrome.
Complications Causes
References
  1. George CA, et al. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome. Clinics in Sports Medicine. 2012;31:307.
  2. Lee CH, et al. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome in adductor pollicis muscle: Case report. Journal of Hand Surgery. 2012;37A:2310.
  3. Compartment syndrome. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00204. Accessed Dec. 18, 2012.
  4. Aweid O, et al. Systematic review and recommendations for intracompartmental pressure monitoring in diagnosing chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the leg. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine. 2012;22:356.
  5. Meehan WP. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome. www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Dec. 18, 2012.
  6. Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191205553-4/0/1481/0.html#. Accessed Dec. 18, 2012.
  7. Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1584/0.html. Accessed Dec. 18, 2012.
  8. Ringler MD, et al. MRI accurately detects chronic exertional compartment syndrome: A validation study. Skeletal Radiology. In press. Accessed Dec. 18, 2012.
  9. Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 20, 2012.
DS00789 Feb. 20, 2013

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