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Va. (WVIR) – Runners and cyclists are often misdiagnosed with muscle, tendon or hip issues when the actual cause is a vascular condition, according to doctors
The condition, called iliac endofibrosis, is now more commonly known as functional limitation of the iliac arteries, or FLIA
Dr. Megan Tracci, a health vascular surgeon with UVA, said the condition results from repeated strain in athletes who train at high volumes
“In these really elite athletes who have thousands and thousands of reps cycling or running or as triathletes, is that you get essentially a repetitive trauma injury,” Tracci said
Symptoms of FLIA become apparent at maximum energy levels
“They’ll notice burning, cramping, tightening of the leg, typically starting in the thigh or the buttock, but oftentimes regressing down the leg to the calf or the foot. Cyclists often describe a loss of power,” Tracci said
The pain is typically mistaken for muscle cramps, and resting health tests often look normal
“And where you really see both the symptoms and abnormal test findings is when people are under stress. In these folks, we’ll put them on a treadmill and really get them running.”
The diagnosis has helped treat athletes in Charlottesville from more than 31 states and three countries
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