S2084 NERVE ENTRAPMENT SYNDROMES IN ATHLETES

Abstract

Acute trauma and repetitive nicrotrauma connected with certain athletic activities are oftenmentioned when describing the etiology of nerve entrapment syndromes. According to the literature it is obvious that nerve entrapment syndromes in athletes are not as rare as they were once considered to be. Certain sports or physical activities have been mentioned that lead to specific nerve entrapment syndromes – for example, cyclist’s palsy and bowler’s thumb. Unlike nerve entrapment syndromes, vascular and neurovascular syndromes in athletes seem to be more common and have been described in greater detail, while nerve entrapment syndromes in athletes have been reported only recently. To support this contention, I present currently available information about nerve entrapment syndromes in athletes. For each syndrome possible cause of compression, clinical symptoms and signs, and the most effective treatment is presented. On the upper extremity are described: spinal accessory nerve, thoracic outlet syndrome, brachial plexus, long thoracic nerve, suprascapular nerve, axillary nerve, musculocutaneous nerve, lateral ante-brachial cutaneous nerve, radial nerve above the elbow, radial tunnel syndrome, Wartenberg’s disease, distal posterior interosseous nerve, ulnar nerve at the elbow and in Guyon’s canal, median nerve at the elbow and in carpal canal, anterior interosseous nerve and digital nerves. The syndromes described on the lower extremity are: groin pain, piriformis muscle syndrome, pudendus nerve, meralgia paresthetica, sural nerve, common peroneal nerve, superficial peroneal nerve, deep peroneal nerve, tarsal tunnel syndrome, the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve, medial plantar nerve (jogger’s foot) and interdigital neuromas (metatrsalgia.

In conclusion I stress that nerve entrapment syndromes must be considered in the diferential diagnosis of pain in athletes.