Transient Compartment Syndrome of the Feet

I have a proficiency in lower extremity sports medicine and would like to make some suggestions for identifying the cause of foot pain, particularly as it relates to gym work-outs.First try to identify the specific anatomical part affected and if the pain radiates in any particular direction from that spot. You will probably need your trainers help with this. Next identify what makes it better, such as rest, and what aggravates the pain or causes its onset. These facts will help a professional give you an accurate diagnosis and treatment regime.Other than the maladies mentioned above, a very common problem that I see and describe as Transient Compartment Syndrome, (TCS), is very common in the gym. The symptoms are of an exquisite pain, sometimes gradually building, in the mid and forefoot. The onset is with lower extremity exercise that has been underway for several minutes. It is aggravated by continueing the work-out and often causes numbness in the forefoot and digits. It ultimately can cause a person to stop their work-out. The pain resolves upon stopping the activity and/or removing their shoe gear. Often, treadmills, stairmasters and elliptical machines are particularly aggravating due to their causing the feet to remain in a propulsive phase of gait too long. The first treatment that I try for this (TCS)is very simple and never fails when my diagnosis is correct. First, be certain that your shoes fit correctly. (You can check my blog for instructions on how to do that.) Then, re-lace your shoes so that you skip the cross over of laces at the middle two holes and the tongue tether and continue lacing again toward the ankle. This prevents the typically overbearing lacing pattern that most modern athletic shoes have from depriving the intrinsic muscles and nerves of the foot of their blood flow as they swell and engorge with exercise. I hope this information benefits you. Dr. McNamara