Are you dealing with new or worsening pain when you get up on your tiptoes? If pain is making it uncomfortable to stand on your tiptoes, you could be dealing with a condition known as tibialis posterior tendonopathy. It’s a relatively common overuse disorder that affects the feet, and you’ll want to be proactive in your management of the condition to prevent it from lingering. Below, we take a closer look at tibialis posterior tendonopathy and how to effectively treat the condition.
Causes And Symptoms Of Tibialis Posterior Tendonopathy
Your tibialis posterior is a long, thin tendon that runs down the inside of your leg and underneath your foot. It plays a key role in stabilizing your foot while also helping to keep the longitudinal arch from rolling inwards when you walk, run or move. Not only can damage to this tendon be uncomfortable, but it can also increase your risk of additional injuries due to a loss in foot stabilization.
As we mentioned in the introduction, tibialis posterior tendonopathy is typically the result of overuse and overstress on the tendon. People who don’t give their body the rest it needs after activity, or those who increase their physical workload too quickly in a short period of time are at the greatest risk for tibialis posterior tendonopathy. When the tendon is overworked, it can inflame and develop microtears, leading to symptoms that include:
- Pain, especially when standing on your tiptoes
- Discomfort along the inner ankle and lower leg
- Tenderness
- Swelling
Left untreated, symptoms can worsen and your natural foot arch may flatten out, compromising the integrity of the midfoot. Fortunately, tibialis posterior tendonopathy can be treated with relative ease, so long as you are proactive.
Diagnosing And Treating Tibialis Posterior Tendonopathy
Injuries to different muscles in the lower leg and ankle can lead to discomfort when standing on your tiptoes, so it’s wise to connect with a foot and ankle specialist to determine exactly what you’re dealing with. Assuming you are in fact dealing with tibialis posterior tendonopathy, there’s a good chance that your provider will recommend a combination of conservative treatments, including:
Short-Term Rest – Short-term rest will protect the tendon from additional stress and give the body time to help the area heal.
Physical Therapy – Physical therapy will strengthen the tendon and the tissues and structures that support the area, in turn taking stress off the tibialis posterior.
Weight Loss – Heavier patients may find that losing a little weight can limit the amount of regular stress the tendon has to absorb with everyday movements.
Orthotic Inserts – Generic or custom orthotics can change the way stress is distributed across your foot, helping to protect the tendon from additional strain.
Gradual Return To Athletics – Patients working to overcome tibialis posterior tendonopathy will want to slowly build up their activity levels to avoid overstressing the tendon. You may also find that pursuing cross training exercises can be beneficial as that you’re not always working the same muscle groups every time you exercise.
Tibialis posterior tendonopathy typically responds well to targeted conservative treatment, but your doctor can walk you through more hands-on care if non-operative methods fail.
If you believe you’re dealing with tibialis posterior tendonopathy or you simply want an expert to help diagnose or treat your foot discomfort, connect with Dr. Silverman by filling out this contact form.