Actively Recruiting
Physiotherapy or Fasciotomy as Treatment for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome in the Lower Leg?
Led by Bispebjerg Hospital · Updated on 2026-04-06
72
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
430 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
It is hypothesized that physiotherapy including a change in running landing pattern and surgical fasciotomy are equally good as treatment options for chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) of the anterior compartment of the lower leg. The endpoints/outcomes are: Change from week 0 (start of study) to week 12 (completion of intervention) in: patient reported outcome measure (PROM) (Exercise induced leg pain Questionnaire (EILP)). Secondary outcomes are: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score after an "exercise provocation test": Change in intracompartmental pressure (ICP)Change in muscle compartment compliance. Change in Global Rating of Change Score/Scale (GRC). Change in Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) The study is important because: 1. Results from recent studies suggest that physiotherapy represents a valid alternative to surgery for the treatment of CECS. Surgery is currently standard treatment and a change towards physiotherapy as primary treatment could potentially reduce both complication rates and costs. 2. Intracompartmental pressure (ICP) is gold standard for diagnosing CECS. However, the association between ICP and symptoms of CECS, both before and after physiotherapeutic and surgical treatment, muscle compartment compliance and intracompartmental perfusion, has not been thoroughly investigated.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Physiotherapy or Fasciotomy as Treatment for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome in the Lower Leg?
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age between 18 and 50 years
- Symptoms for more than 3 months
- Symptoms from both legs with pain (cramp-like, tight, burning, or pressure) in the anterior lower leg starting after about 10 minutes of exercise
- Pain worsened with prolonged lower leg exertion
- Majority of pain relieved within 30 minutes of rest
You will not qualify if you...
- Previous fasciotomy in the lower leg
- History of serious trauma to the lower leg (fracture, muscle or tendon rupture)
- ASA physical status classification greater than 2
- Clinical symptoms of unilateral anterior CECS or lateral/posterior CECS
- Clinical symptoms of lumbar spine radiculopathy, periostitis/shin splint, stress fracture, popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, isolated peroneal nerve entrapment, or isolated muscle fascia herniation
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
Bispebjerg Hospital
Copenhagen, Copehagen, Denmark, 2400
Actively Recruiting
2
Bispebjerg Hospital
Copenhagen, Denmark, 2400
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Simon Doessing, M.D. PhD.
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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