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Lower Leg Injuries. Thomas M. Howard, MD, FACSM Sports Medicine. Differential. MTSS Stress Fracture ECS Strain Tennis Leg Achilles. MTSS. ECS. Stress Fracture. MTSS. Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome AKA Shin Splint. Theories. Soleus Bridge Medial Gastroc tightness
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Lower Leg Injuries Thomas M. Howard, MD, FACSM Sports Medicine
Differential • MTSS • Stress Fracture • ECS • Strain • Tennis Leg • Achilles
MTSS ECS Stress Fracture
MTSS • Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome • AKA Shin Splint
Theories • Soleus Bridge • Medial Gastroc tightness • Posterior TibialPeriostitis • Tibialis Anterior fatigue
Symptoms • Distal medial leg pain w impact activities
Risk Factors • Too much, too soon, too fast… • Pronation • Running on cambered surface • Poor shoes • Gastoc-Soleus tightness • Weak Posterior Tibialisand Anterior Tib.
Exam • Tenderness along the distal med Tibial border or anterior shin • No anterior cortical tenderness • Foot pronation • Tight Heel Cord
Management • Orthotics • Shoe evaluation • Strengthening and stretching • Shin Sleeve • Activity Modification • Monitor for other conditions
Epidemiology • Incidence around 10% of all musculoskeletal injuries • 95% of all stress fractures occur in lower extremity • 46% tibia • 15% navicular • 12% the fibula
Pathophysiology • Repetitive loading alters bone’s microstructure (↑ number & size microfx) • Response is ↑ oseteoclastic & osteoblastic activity • Usually results in a stronger bone able to withstand greater loads • Initially osteoblastic activity lags behind resorptive properties of osteoclasts • Process leaves bone susceptible to fatigue failure if the area is continually stressed without adequate time for repair • Couple this w muscle dysfxn from overuse results in focal bending stresses exceeding structural & physiologic tolerance of bone Usually takes at least 2-3 weeks to develop
Risk Factors • Too much, too soon, too fast… • “out of shape” • PesCavus, Leg length issues • Thin build • Vitamin D Def and hormonal • Disordered Eating • Poor Bone Quality • Weak core…
Exam • Swelling and/or percussion tenderness • Tibial or Fibular • Fulcrum Test • Single leg hop
Imaging • Plain Film • Periosteal reaction • Sclerosis • CT • Bone Scan • MRI
Management • Relative Rest • 6-12 weeks • Flexibility • Core Strengthening • Calcium • ? BMD • Fix intrinsic issues • Orthotics • Shoes • Splinting? • Bone stimulator • Bone graft
Anatomy • 4 muscular compartments • Anterior • Lateral • Superficial posterior • Deep posterior • Fascial defects
Anterior Compartment • Muscles • Tib anterior • Ext. digitorum • Ext. hallucislongus • Peroneus tertius • Major nerve • Deep peroneal n. • Major vessels • Ant. Tibial art./vein
Lateral Compartment • Muscles • Peroneus longus and brevis • Major nerve • Sup. Peroneal • Major vessels • Branch off anterior tibial artery/vein
Deep Posterior • Muscles • Flex. Digit. longus • Flex. Hallucislongus • Popliteus • Tib. Posterior • Major Nerve • Tibial n. • Major vessels • Post tibial art./vein
Superficial Posterior • Muscles • Gastroc • Soleus • Plantaris • Major nerve • Sural n. • Major vessels • Branch off tibial artery/vein
Pathophysiology • Normal exercise • Muscle volume increases by 20% • Intramuscular pressures exceed 500 mm Hg with contractions • Perfusion during relaxation phase
Pathophysiology • Controversial, Probably multifactorial • Thickened, inelastic fascia • Possible small muscle herniations • Muscle hypertrophy (normal vs. other)
Clinical Presentation • History • One or several compartments • >85% bilateral • Fairly predictable and reproducible
Risk Factors • Use of creatine supplementation • Use of androgenic steroids • Eccentric exercise in postpubertal athletes: decreases fascial compliance?
Differential • Claudication • Buergersdz • Popliteal Artery entrapment • Strain • MTSS • Stress Fracture
Diagnostic Pressures(Touliopolous and Hershman, 1999.) • POSITIVE FINDINGS: • Resting pressure > 15 mm Hg • 1 minute post exercise > 30 mm Hg • 5 minute post exercise > 20 mm Hg **Baseline pressure does not return for > 15 minutes. (suspicious) (Garcia-Mata et al., 2001)
US Guidance?? • Prob for Deep Posterior
Treatment Options • Activity modification for symptom relief • Correct biomechanical problems • Gait retraining: Pose technique (forefoot) • ? Deep Tissue Massage • Surgery?
Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome • Claudication in young active individual • Calf pain, cramping, color and temp changes
Etiology • Anomalous course • Muscle hypertrophy • Gastroc, Soleus, Popliteus, Plantaris
Diagnosis • US • Angiography • MRA • CTA • Dynamic maneuvers
Tennis Leg • Strain of Medial Gastroc
Tennis Leg • Painful pop w eccentric load • Neg Thompson Test • Short term immobilization • Rehab • Recovery 2-8 weeks
Achilles Rupture • Painful pop with eccentric load • Palpable gap • Abnormal Thompson • Surgical or non-surgical mgt
Non-surgical • Plantar flexed cast • 6-8 weeks • Rehab • ~30% recurrent rupture
Surgical • Open or percutaneous
Final Thoughts… • Take a good history • Look for training and biomechanical issues • Consider dynamic assessment • Judicious use of advanced diagnostic studies • Cross-train and relative rest