AIM: Chronic exertional anterior compartment syndrome (ant-CECS) is a major cause of lower leg pain. Surgical fasciotomy is still the main treatment given with high success rate. Thorough physical therapy attempts as a non-operative treatment depends on manual therapy, modalities, and proper orthotic wear. Hence, there is a paucity of literature that compares the effects of two manual techniques on patients with ant-CECS. So, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Astym therapy and massage in patients with chronic exertional anterior compartment syndrome of the lower leg. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This study was a prospective, randomized, single-blind, post-test, controlled trial. The study was conducted at Beni-Suef University, Egypt. A total of thirty participants with chronic exertional anterior compartment syndrome pain enrolled in experimental and control groups. The outcomes were measured post-treatment to compare the effect of both interventions. RESULTS: Mixed design MANOVA was used to compare the tested variables of interest. Post-treatment comparison showed a significant reduction in pain in favor of Astym group with significant differences in both lower extremity functional score and passive ankle dorsiflexion. (p > 0.05). DISCUSSION: Pain and disability typically associated with ant-CECS reduced greatly after treatment of ant-CECS using ASTYM or massage. ASTYM treatment is more effective than massage therapy in reducing pain, improving overall functional level for patients with ant-CECS.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PDF locator
• publisher