Pain and Swelling of the Inside Ankle, Foot and Arch - Ankle Tibialis Posterior Tendonitis
Posted: Thursday, August 13, 2009
by Karen Webb
Webbs Podiatry
Muscles are attached to bones by tendons. Most of the muscles that move your feet are in the lower legs. The tibialis posterior muscle originates deep in the back of the lower leg and moves your foot inwards. The tibialis posterior muscle has a tendon that wraps around your ankle bone and connects to the bones that form the arch of your foot. This muscle and tendon work together to support the inside arch of your foot.
Symptoms
- Symptoms may start gradually with a dull, intermittent pain on the inside of your ankle or arch of the foot.
- Pain, soreness, and swelling along the length of the tibialis posterior tendon.
- May progress to a continuous sharp pain to the inside of your ankle or arch of the foot.
- The affected foot tends to be flatter than the other foot.
Causes
- Tibialis posterior tendonitis may be caused by direct trauma to your ankle or foot, but most commonly it is an overuse injury.
Triggers can include:
- Exercise such as running, jumping, walking etc.
- Inadequate warm up prior to exercise.
- Increasing age
- Inflexible calf muscles /Achilles tendon
- Poor footwear
Treatments Include:
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Regular icing of the affected area
- Podiatric treatment is vital to increase strength and flexibility of the affected tendon.
- Rest from any activity that causes the pain, to avoid further damage.
- Supportive footwear
- Shoe orthotics may be of some help.
- Surgery may be needed if all other treatments fail.
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