Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Foot

Active individuals can experience exercise-induced pain along the medial, plantar central, and plantarmedial proximal arch. In many cases, these symptoms are consistent with conditions involving the plantar fascia, posterior tibial tendon, or entrapment of branches of the posterior tibial nerve. Unlike these other conditions, chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) of the foot can be aggravated by interventions that impart any pressure or compression to the foot. Practitioners should have a high index of suspicion for CECS when classic treatments tend to aggravate patient's symptoms.