This can lead to foot and ankle pain, as well as other issues.
Persons with posterior tibial tendonitis may have difficulty standing on their toes or turning their feet inward.
What Is Posterior Tibial Tendonitis?
Verywell / Cindy Chung
Posterior tibial tendonitis pops up if the posterior tibial tendon becomes injured or inflamed.
Posterior tibial tendon problems usually occur just underneath the inner side of the ankle, called themedial malleolus.
The medial malleolus is the end of the shin bone (the tibia).
It’s the big bump you feel on the inside of your ankle.
The posterior tibial tendon wraps just underneath the medial malleolus.
However, some will have had no recent injury.
The tendon can also be damaged from overuse.
“This condition typically begins with pain and weakness of the tendon.
As AAFD advances, the ligaments (tissues that connect bones to bones) of the foot are affected.
The foot joints may no longer line up correctly and may become set in the wrong position.
For this reason, early treatment is important to avoid or slow progression to the later stages of AAFD.
The MRI can determine whether the tendon has ruptured and where.
It can also show inflammation surrounding the tendon.
Stages
Posterior tibial tendonitis is classified according to the stage of the condition.
Nonsurgical treatment can be used at any stage.
However, the chances of success with these options decrease as the condition progresses.
Treatment
Treating posterior tibial tendonitis depends on the stage of the tendonitis.
In the early stage, it usually involves rest and non-surgical treatments.
Later, it may require surgery.
Surgical Options
Surgical treatment of posterior tibial tendonitis is controversial.
It may cause instability while walking.
Your healthcare provider will diagnose this condition based on a physical examination and imaging techniques.
It’s best to treat the condition early.
Treatment depends on how advanced the condition is.Orthoticsand physical therapy are common first-line treatments.
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