Peroneal tendonitis is an all too common condition that affects millions of Americans each year. The condition involves chronic inflammation in one or both of the tendons that connect your lower leg to your foot. It tends to develop as a result of overuse or acute injury to the foot and leg, making certain groups of people more at risk for developing peroneal tendonitis. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at who is at a heightened risk for developing peroneal tendonitis.
Peroneal Tendonitis Risk Factors
We touched on some of the underlying causes of peroneal tendonitis in the intro, but it’s imperative that you are aware of who may be at risk for the condition because it is highly treatable if caught early. If you try to power through the pain, the issue can worsen, prolonging symptoms and your treatment timeline. Here’s a look at some groups that may be at a heightened risk for chronic peroneal tendon inflammation.
1. Runners/Athletes – If you’re regularly putting a lot of stress on your feet, you may be overstressing your peroneal tendons and triggering an inflammatory response. We don’t want you to shift to a sedentary lifestyle, but you need to be mindful of not putting too much stress on your feet in too short of a time period. Gradually increase your intensity or your running distance, and cut back if you’re starting to deal with pain, stiffness or discomfort in your lower leg during or after activity.
2. Overweight Individuals – If you’re carrying extra weight, your feet and legs will be handling additional stress with every step you take. Again, we want you to be active, because that’s part of an active lifestyle, but you may want to consider some activities that are less stressful on your feet while you’re working to manage your weight. Swimming, weight lifting or rowing are examples of healthy ways you can exercise without putting extra strain on your feet.
3. Certain Underlying Foot Conditions – Individuals with certain underlying foot conditions will be at a heightened risk for peroneal tendonitis based on the way stress is dispersed in their lower leg and foot. Those with the following foot issues may be at risk:
- High foot arches
- Flat feet
- Tight calf muscles
4. Wearing The Wrong Shoes – If your feet aren’t adequately supported in your shoes, they may be forced to handle additional stress, which as we’ve touched on above, can lead to peroneal tendon issues. Always try on your shoes before you buy to ensure they fit your unique foot shape, and be mindful of how your feet feel after long stretches in different pairs, as this could signal which shoes are less than supportive.
5. Untreated Ankle Sprains – A final group of people who are at an increased risk for peroneal tendonitis are those with an untreated ankle sprain. If you never worked to strengthen supportive ankle ligaments after an ankle sprain, even if the sprain itself is no longer painful, you may be at an increased risk for peroneal tendonitis because the ankle is weaker. This means the peroneal tendons may end up handling additional stress, which can lead to faster tissue damage and inflammation.
Treating peroneal tendonitis is easy when you know the warning signs and connect with a specialist like Dr. Silverman who can help you protect and strengthen these tendons. For more information, or for help with your foot and ankle issue, reach out to Dr. Silverman and the team at Silverman Ankle & Foot today at (952) 224-8500.
