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We measured intramuscular oxygenation in the anterior tibial muscle of 176 patients with exercise-induced leg pain by noninvasive near-infrared spectroscopy before, during, and after an exercise test that elicited the symptoms. Clinical investigation was performed after each test. Intramuscular pressure was measured in patients with nonconclusive findings. Chronic anterior compartment syndrome (CACS) was diagnosed in 47 patients, and other causes for the leg pain were diagnosed in 129 patients by clinical means. The mean level of oxygenation decreased to 33 ± 19% in patients with CACS and to 34 ± 19% in patients without CACS compared with baseline level (100%) at rest before exercise. The level of oxygenation was below 20% during the exercise test in 12 of 47 (26%) patients with CACS and in 30 of 129 (23%) patients without CACS. The time required for reoxygenation after the cessation of exercise was 61 ± 34 s in patients with CACS and 46 ± 20 s in patients without CACS (P < 0.05). We conclude that the magnitude of intramuscular deoxygenation during exercise is an unreliable measure to diagnose CACS. However, the time for reoxygenation returning to baseline level following an exercise test is a valuable adjunct in diagnosing CACS., (© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Background and Purpose: Methods for identification of patients with illness behavior in orthopedic settings are still being debated. The purpose of this study was to test the association between illness behavior, depressed mood, pain intensity, self-rated disability, and clinical status in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP)., Methods: We examined 174 consecutive sick-listed patients (90 women). Musculoskeletal function was estimated by range of motion, muscle strength, and motor and sensory function. The degree of illness behavior was measured by Waddell signs (WS), RESULTS: WS were observed in 47/174 (27%) of the patients, 16% of whom manifested excessive illness behaviour. In general, more patients with WS were depressed (OR = 4.4; 95% CI: 1.8-11) and experienced greater pain (OR = 2.9; CI: 1.1-7.7). No abnormal physical function could be observed in two-thirds of the patients. Other predictive factors for manifesting WS at the clinical examinations were longer sick leave and previous full sick leave (p < 0.05)., Interpretation: Excessive illness behavior is related to psychological distress in patients with CMP and long-term disability. Thus, some patients may also require psychological assessment. Looking for WS during consultation is useful for targeting other factors that may be important in the diagnostic process.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to use a phenomenological approach to explore how patients with persistent musculoskeletal pain experienced moving with their pain., Design: In-depth interviews were performed by a physical therapy researcher with many years' experience with the rehabilitation of patients with persistent musculoskeletal pain., Setting: The patients took part in individual rehabilitation at two different physical therapy departments. All but one patient opted to be interviewed in a room at the physical therapy department., Method: The sample was purposive and consisted of 10 Swedish outpatients with heterogeneous nonmalignant persistent musculoskeletal pain., Subjects: The interviews were analyzed according to a qualitative method known as the Empirical Phenomenological Psychological (EPP) method. The results were coded, analyzed, and described in typologies., Results: The experience of moving with pain implied much more than pure physical movement. Pain was a threatening challenge to the informants' existence and identity. Three typologies were identified: failed adaptation, identity restoration, and finding the way out., Conclusions: In conclusion, to move with persistent pain was described by the informants as having deep existential impact on the individual's life. It was also evident that all of the informants experienced a dramatic change in their identity. These experiences would most likely affect the patients' chances of recovery. To help him/her through the rehabilitation process, we need to extend our knowledge about what it means to the patient in an existential context to be unable to move as before.

Objectives: To describe the occurrence of kinesiophobia and to investigate the association between kinesiphobia and pain variables, physical exercise measures and psychological characteristics in patients with musculoskeletal pain., Design: A prospective descriptive study involving 2 selected physiotherapy departments within a primary healthcare setting in the south-west of Sweden., Patients: Included were 140 of 369 (38%) consecutive patients (aged between 18 and 65 years) with musculoskeletal pain., Methods: Questionnaires including background data, pain variables, physical exercise measures and psychological characteristics were sent to the patients prior to their appointment with the physiotherapist. A simple and a multiple logistic regression model were performed to identify associations among the variables where kinesiophobia was defined as the dependent variable., Results: A high degree of kinesiophobia and psychological distress were observed in approximately 50% of the responders. According to the simple logistic regression analysis the factors that seemed to be associated with kinesiophobia were interference, disability, pain severity, pain intensity, life control, affective distress, depressed mood and solicitous response. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed no significant associations., Conclusion: Kinesiophobia is a commonly seen factor among patients with musculoskeletal pain, which ought to be taken into consideration when designing and performing rehabilitation programmes.

Intramuscular pressure was recorded in 28 patients with exercise-induced posteromedial pain in the lower leg. Pressure was recorded simultaneously in the posterior tibial muscle and in the flexor digitorum muscle during an exercise test and at rest after exercise. This study shows that intramuscular pressures during exercise and the time period for normalization of the pressure at rest after exercise were within normal limits. The result of pressure recording depends on which muscle in the deep posterior compartment is investigated and on the type of work performed. This article describes some of the difficulties associated with pressure recording in the deep posterior compartment. Chronic compartment syndrome in the deep posterior compartment as a reason for pain in the posteromedial part of the lower leg could not be demonstrated.

Clinical examination following an exercise test that elicits the symptoms of lower leg pain is most helpful in diagnosing the causes. Location of swelling, pain, impaired muscle function and impaired nerve function should all be analysed. History and clinical signs alone are insufficient to establish the diagnosis of chronic anterior compartment syndrome, and for this reason intramuscular pressure recordings have an important role in diagnosis. Different techniques for pressure recording and different pressure parameters are reviewed. Muscle relaxation pressure during exercise and intramuscular pressure at rest after exercise are the best parameters to study. Fasciotomy relieves pain in between 60% and 100% of patients. Closure of a fascial defect is never indicated, because it decreases the compartment size and may precipitate an acute compartment syndrome. Recording of nerve conduction velocity is a helpful complement in the diagnosis and evaluation of superficial peroneal nerve compression. Decompression by local fasciectomy and fasciotomy of the lateral compartment gives good results in more than 50% of patients. The value of periostitis as a clinical sign and the possibility of chronic pain following eccentric exercise are discussed.

Ninety-eight patients with chronic exercise-induced pain in the anterior compartment of the lower leg underwent extensive clinical and laboratory investigations to establish the diagnosis. They all were referred because of a putative chronic compartment syndrome (CCS). Intramuscular pressure was recorded bilaterally during exercise in the anterior tibial muscle in all of them. Conduction-velocity recordings of the deep and superficial peroneal nerves were performed in 29 patients. Other investigations included radiography, plethysmography, and scintigraphy. CCS was diagnosed in 26 of the 98 patients. Other diagnoses included periostitis in 41 patients, compression of the superficial peroneal nerve in 13, and miscellaneous other diagnoses in 18. CCS seems to be an uncommon reason for anterior pain in the lower legs.