Iliac artery flow limitations in endurance athletes.

摘要

Flow limitations in the iliac arteries of endurance athletes are an underreported and unrecognized problem. The diagnosis can be elusive, despite multiple doctor visits and diagnostic tests, unless one has a high index of clinical suspicion. The time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis can be 3 to 4 yr (19). Symptom complaints include leg pain, powerlessness, and numbness. Flow limitation may be due to functional iliac artery obstruction from kinking and/or excessive lengthening of vessels (17) or external iliac artery endofibrosis (EIAE) (5). Lengthening seems to originate from the relative ventral position of the iliac arteries in relation to the hip joint, restriction of the iliac arteries via collateral circulation on the psoas muscle, and repetitive dorsal forces due to hip flexion during athletics (17).