Anterior tibial muscle herina

[Spyr0o]

Hi,
I hope this is the right session where to talk about this.
I am 29, male and I have 3 muscular hernias on my legs, at half height between ankle and knee.
I noticed the first one probably 5 years ago. Then it became bigger (now it is more than 2 cm diam) and new ones appeared.
I am concerned that their dimension and number will increase again.
Do you know if there is anything that I can do, please?
Or at least, what should I avoid? I regularly cycle 30 mins per day to go to work and I run 2 times per week, trying never to do too much. I am not sure if this activity can make it worse.
During physical activity they are disturbing but not truly painful.
Differently from what other people noticed, mine are always visible, even if I do not run.

Many thanks,


Max

Similar Threads:

• Anterior Tibial Stress Fracture - Please Help!!!
• Anterior Tibial Stress Fracture
• Posterior tibial tendonitis
• Complicated Tibial #
• Re- Tibial plateau #

[physiobob]

Sounds like you are talking about superficial veins. Maybe post a picture if you can to give us a little more information about the actual presentation.

[Spyr0o]

Sounds like you are talking about superficial veins. Maybe post a picture if you can to give us a little more information about the actual presentation.

Hi, thanks for your answer.
No unluckily I do not think they are just veins, because the ultra sound test stated they are hernias.
I attach an image to be clear.

My issue is just.. how can I avoid that they become bigger? Can I run/cycle/swim? Or should I just stop activity as an elderly man? (
Thanks!

The attached picture does not work.. please have a look here: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mu...pO0smv7GEwM%3A

[physiobob]

OK, no image attached but if these are muscle pushing through the fascia, it is usually more of an aesthetic issue. Sometimes depending where the hernias are, they can compress structures that can cause symptoms (e.g. nerves and larger blood vessels). If it is a genetically weak fascia there isn't much you can do conservatively about it, except trying to prevent muscle hypertrophy (growth). I found an overview and rather useful article here if it's of interest Muscle hernias of the leg: A case report and comprehensive review of the literature

[Spyr0o]

OK, no image attached but if these are muscle pushing through the fascia, it is usually more of an aesthetic issue. Sometimes depending where the hernias are, they can compress structures that can cause symptoms (e.g. nerves and larger blood vessels). If it is a genetically weak fascia there isn't much you can do conservatively about it, except trying to prevent muscle hypertrophy (growth). I found an overview and rather useful article here if it's of interest Muscle hernias of the leg: A case report and comprehensive review of the literature

Hi! Thanks a lot for your answer and the link.
When you say "prevent muscle hypertrophy", do you mean to use it as less as possible (0 activity, no cycling, no swimming), or simply to avoid those exercises at the gym (like squat) that involves the lower part of the leg?

Is there no way to strengthen the fascia through where the muscle is pushing, please?

Many thanks,


Massimo

[physiobob]

Unfortunately yes, there's no real way to strengthen the fascia, and it is probably weak since birth so nothing you can do about it. I did see some surgical interventions but they are really only for symptomatic issues (rather than aesthetic).

Re exercise, yes reduce the activities that put a lot of load in the areas where your issues are. Of course you still want to have a balance in your body so take a conservative approach to that. Sorry from a physio point of view there is no much more to advise. Others may have some input over time to this thread, perhaps with first hand personal or patient experience.

[Spyr0o]

Unfortunately yes, there's no real way to strengthen the fascia, and it is probably weak since birth so nothing you can do about it. I did see some surgical interventions but they are really only for symptomatic issues (rather than aesthetic).

Re exercise, yes reduce the activities that put a lot of load in the areas where your issues are. Of course you still want to have a balance in your body so take a conservative approach to that. Sorry from a physio point of view there is no much more to advise. Others may have some input over time to this thread, perhaps with first hand personal or patient experience.

Thanks a lot for your help.
Just for clarity please: I assume running overloads muscles in shin and tibia area but what about swimming and cycling? Would these sports be more acceptable for my condition?

Many thanks,



Massimo

[physiobob]

In my opinion swimming would be a great idea to maintain some strength without over doing things. Cycling does pump the calves and the tibialis anterior a lot if you are using cleats and peroneals/tib posterior when out of the saddle, so if you wanted to cycle i would not use cleats/clips.

[Spyr0o]

In my opinion swimming would be a great idea to maintain some strength without over doing things. Cycling does pump the calves and the tibialis anterior a lot if you are using cleats and peroneals/tib posterior when out of the saddle, so if you wanted to cycle i would not use cleats/clips.

Many thanks for your answer.
Is there any other sport that I could do, in your opinion, please?

I am not using cleats/clips.
I am sorry but I did not get it: is to cycle out of the saddle a good idea? or should I avoid it?
My issue is about muscles in front of the tibia, but maybe they are so close to each other that stimulating one, also the one around go in hypertrophy?

Many thanks!


Massimo