Lower leg anterior and lateral intracompartmental pressure changes before and after classic versus skate Nordic rollerskiing in collegiate Nordic skiers

Increasing awareness of chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) among Nordic skiers warrants the need for specific analysis of intracompartmental pressures (ICPs) before and after Nordic skiing. The purpose of this study was to determine if lower leg anterior and lateral ICPs are increased after a 20-minute Nordic rollerskiing time-trial, as well as determine if a difference exists between postexercise ICPs for classic versus skate rollerskiing.;Seven participants were randomly assigned into a technique order group designating which technique, classic or skate rollerskiing, they would perform first. Each technique was performed 7 days apart. Before rollerskiing, preexercise ICP measurements were taken from the anterior and lateral lower leg compartments. Identical methods were used to measure ICPs at the 1st and 5th minute following activity using either the classic or the skate Nordic rollerskiing technique.;Our results showed an increase in ICPs for all participants for the both anterior and lateral compartments (p = 0.000 and p = 0.002, respectively), regardless of technique. A three-way interaction between time, technique, and gender was found for the anterior and lateral compartments and subjective perception of lower leg pain. The males showed statistical significance for the anterior (t(6) = 8.434, p < 0.05) and lateral (t(6) = 3.076, p < 0.05) ICPs between baseline and 1-minute postexercise when using the classic technique versus the skate technique. Although not statistically significant, the females showed higher anterior and lateral ICPs at 1-minute postexercise when using the skate technique versus the classic technique. The males' subjective perception of pain was statistically greater at 1-minute postexercise during classic rollerskiing versus skate rollerskiing, whereas the females' subjective perception of pain was statistically greater at 1-minute postexercise during skate rollerskiing versus classic rollerskiing.;The results of this study suggest that Nordic skiing contributes to increases in ICPs which may lead to the development of CECS. Additonally, there may be a potential gender affect between the Nordic skiing techniques. Further research topic is warranted to better understand the incidence and long--term effects of this phenomenon regarding increased ICPs and symptoms of CECS within the Nordic skiing population.