Comments on: Q&A with Katie Compton: ‘I cannot bend my legs’

By: Marshall Hance

Marshall Hance — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:56:39 +0000

That was my first thoughts!

By: roadrider

roadrider — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:52:00 +0000

Katie we in COS have been following your results all year. It was great to see your early results, and sad to see the season come to the end the way it did. We’ll be glad to have you and Mark back on the Satudary rides, and we hope you find the problem, before time passes on your chance for the Raibow Jersey. (I know we all would love to see your get it,) Good luck and we’ll see you o

By: Walt

Walt — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:08:00 +0000

Katie,

Sorry about the disappointing end to a promising cross season. Please take my advice and do NOT pay attention to any of these replies.
See some specialists and figure it out.Nobody on this forum is able to diagnose you with whatchamacallititis from reading about some of your symptoms.
Good luck.

Walt

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:29:00 +0000

Muscle cramping and tightness is typically a symptom, not the actual cause. Most athletes try to relieve tightness and cramping by stretching the tight muscles. Here is the main problem with that. Muscle tightness is the body’s way of protecting antagonistic muscle, (opposite action to the tightness) from making itself worse.

The treatment I do is called Muscle Activation Techniques, It is a biomechanical analysis of the muscular system. Where there is restriction or tightness in the joint range of motion, rather than stretching what is tight, we identify the neurologically inhibited muscle through isolated muscle testing.

Muscle inhabition develops from: dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, overuse and strain or trauma. Once that muscle is identified, it is treated through palpation at the origin and insertion point. The palpation increases blood flow immediately and accelerates muscular recovery. The muscle test is then reproduced and it brings back the muscles ability to contract. Once that inhibited muscle is able to contract, the antagonistic (opposite action) muscle relaxes, without ever stressing or stretching it.

I see hundreds of endurance athletes here in Colorado Springs with muscular issues. Go to testimonials on my site http://www.activeedgemat.com
This is not massage, chiropractic, myofacia release, ART, trigger point, raulfing or physical therapy.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:35:00 +0000

Katie
You mentioned a trigger point therpy that you are going to try. If you find you don’t get the result your looking for, contact me. http://www.activeedgemat.com or by cell at 719-338-2100.
I office out of Col. springs and work with hundreds of athletes at the high school, college and olympic level. The treatment I do is called Muscle Activation Techniques. It address isolated muscular inhibition, that in turn, causes muscle tightness. Muscular inhibition come from any or a combination of the following:
1 Overuse, 2 Trama 3 Dehydration 4 Nutritional deficiencies
The tighness is the symptom, not the actual cause or root of the problem. When a muscle tightens, it is purposely reacting to protect the body from breaking down even more. If you stretch the tight muscle you are only breaking down the body’s protective mechanism to keep you from doing more damage and increasing the problem. Until the antagonistic muscle neurologically can receive messaging from the central nervous system at a level need to produce force to do the task, the opposite muscle will continue to tighten.

Through isolated muscle testing, I can determine exactly which muscles are inhibited and treat them directly. The palpation at the muscle origin and insertion point increases blood flow directly to the tissue, then the muscle test is repeated, bring back it’s ability to contract. The recovery to muscular tissue, especially from overuse is amazing.

This is not massage therapy, trigger point, active release or myofacia release. They are all great techniques, but the difference is Muscle Activation Techniques identifies the specific muscle or muscles that are inhibited, and then treats them directly.

By: interesteddoc

interesteddoc — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:42:24 +0000

I can find no reference to cannuters syndrome in google or medline. Can you elaborate more on this condition. I would favor a variant of amp deaminase deficiency.

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:23:45 +0000

I was thinking the same thing reading this. Kris freeman (an xc ski racer for the US) has had similar problems in the past - www.krisfreeman.net
symptoms sound similar, and surgery was the only way to fix it for freeman. now, however, seems the problem is gone and he's doing well again. surgery is most likely required - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compartment_syndrome

By: neopro

neopro — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:44:00 +0000

What Compton appears to be dealing with is an affliction known as Cannuter’s Syndrome, which is a rare condition first discovered in Finnish runners during the 70′s. The symptoms are exactly as she describes and the condition is exacerbated by heavy training in colder climes. The “cramps” she describes are not cramps as such, but more of a gradual tightening and stiffening of the muscles coupled with extreme discomfort. Left untreated, the pain and stiffness only gets worse. This is the exact condition that the infamous Ricardo Ricco claims to have suffered from and was reason for his EPO-CERA positive. This is NOT to infer that Compton is of that ilk.

Tums/Rolaids will not cure it, nor will EPO-CERA, nor will accupressure massage. Compton needs to get herself to a specialist in the field of thyroid and hormonal disorders and proceed from there.

By: Been there.

Been there. — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:32:00 +0000

Drink two 12 oz. Dr. Peppers daily. Sounds strange but I had this problem and the only thing that works for me is Dr. Pepper. My father is the same way. I have been to orthopedists, neurologists, physical therapists and endocrinologists. You need a thyroid test too. I bet your pituitary and thyroid are abnormal as well. Do not give up!

By: flandersfatcat

flandersfatcat — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:41:48 +0000

I'm sure Katie, a world class athlete, has consulted specialists, had labs done etc, etc. (If not she'd better because mitochondrial diseases etc are in the differentials). If due dillegence has been done, trigger point work is an option. Sometimes things aren't as clear as an episode of ER or a Wikepedia entry,

By: flandersfatcat

flandersfatcat — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:37:13 +0000

Tums or Rolaids! Sheesh!

By: Joe Spectator

Joe Spectator — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:02:00 +0000

It sounds like Katie is suffering from Compartment Syndrome in her quads. No amount of stretching/massage/therapy will fix that. She needs to go under the knife and have the pressure released.

By: kenny hamm

kenny hamm — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:52:12 +0000

ACUPUNCTURE can't hurt:-)

By: barak007

barak007 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:48:04 +0000

I DID NOT REALIZE SO MANY DOCTORS READ VELONEWS or is this a HOUSE episode. Anyways she needs to see more than one specialist if she's had this problem since 18 something is definitely wrong and her current physicians really aren't that current.

By: RT

RT — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:42:00 +0000

I agree with “Robsi”…Those symptoms sound exactly what I had and blood test revealed very, very (60times) elevated creatine kinase (CK) values in my blood. Rest, rest, rest and lots of hydrating “usually” does the trick…But, seeing thet she’s dealing with it since age 18 you def. want to see at least one specialist. Katie could have won World’s the way she was riding (and winning) that one World Cup in the early season!

By: chris

chris — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:25:10 +0000

The pain you describe reminds me of Kirk Willet's problem in his right leg with blood clots:

http://www.biketechreview.com/misc/bikes_blood.htm

By: pinched artery

pinched artery — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:49:03 +0000

Katie, take your blood pressures after riding and compare with those of your arms. You may be pinching your iliac artery. If this is the case, your blood supply does not meet the demand, and that can be why it jumps around to different parts of the muscle.

By: Guest

Guest — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:37:59 +0000

She should read up on reflex neurovascular dystrophy.

By: pict8kr

pict8kr — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:56:21 +0000

old school blood dopers had the same problems in the classics and tour of early 80's and 90's lets not be fools, before a blood transfusion helps the body it has to take to the body and there are lots of reasons why a blood transfusion might not take (or work) lots pros have raced there buts off only to some how fall to cramps as a milestone , tour,or classics draw closer , and later to find out they were pushing blood other then there own , there are lots of ways to cheat , re-up a contract for next season , extend your pro racing years , tom boonen did not have to dope to win on the cobbles , he just stays behind his doped teammate who tested positive what luck eh! . wake up people these bike races are being bet on ($$$$$) like horse racing 1st 2nd 3rd exacta's and more , paying show up fees ! hello! and you think she will have a hard time finding a new team i doubt it , go kate !

By: robsi

robsi — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:38:12 +0000

Severe prolonged muscle cramps after cycling could indicate a muscle metabolic myopathy–basically the muscles are normal at rest, but cant adequately cope with extreme activity and muscle necrosis or rhabdomyolysis can result. Usually a blood marker of muscle injury, creatinine phosphokinase (CK) is markedly elevated. Very fit individuals, such as pro cyclists may compensate, at least partially with their high aerobic fitness but there is also variability in the degree of muscle energy enzyme deficiency, which can allow them to function at a high level even with the condition. A episode of muscle necrosis induced by an extreme event may need weeks for recovery. As others have suggested, Katie needs to see a specialist!