Ankle tendonitis

A tendonitis in the ankle indicates inflammation of a tendon, the transition between muscle and bone. An abundance of movements with the foot leads to small tears in the tendon. These small tears result in local pain and other signs of inflammation. Because tendons are poorly supplied with blood vessels, recovery from tendonitis is slow.

An example of a tendon in the ankle that is often involved in tendonitis is the tendon of the peroneal muscle.

How does tendonitis in the ankle arise?

As in many other joint locations in the body, tendonitis of the ankle is usually the result of overuse. In this case the tendon of the muscle becomes overloaded due to too many repetitions or too great a tensile force. An ankle tendonitis can also develop when someone sprains an ankle and continues walking (for a long time) with an unstable ankle.

This tendonitis is often seen particularly in sports such as running - on uneven ground - and gymnastics. Other risk factors are poor footwear, improper training progression, and any malalignment of the ankle or foot.

How to recognize tendonitis in the ankle

A hallmark of tendonitis in the ankle is a nagging and sometimes stabbing pain in the ankle. This worsens during loading of the foot or when pressing on the painful tendon. A swelling may be visible on the outside of the ankle, possibly accompanied by local warmth or redness.

Ankle mobility may be reduced due to pain and swelling. Trying to stand on tiptoes will further aggravate the pain.

How is tendonitis in the ankle diagnosed (diagnosed)?

The primary care physician or physical therapist will, on physical examination, possibly supplemented with a number of specific tests, be able to clearly establish the symptoms.

If additional testing is needed, an ultrasound will be the best way to further assess the injury. If this still does not provide sufficient answers, an MRI scan can be used.

How is tendonitis in the ankle treated?

As described, tendonitis in the ankle is the result of overloading the ankle. The first treatment goal is therefore to reduce the load. Taking graded rest and cooling the painful ankle contributes positively to this.

It is also important to investigate the underlying cause of the overload. If this turns out to be an unstable ankle, stabilizing the ankle with exercise therapy is an important treatment intervention. It is recommended to enlist the help of a physical therapist for this. They can also apply treatment methods such as massage, frictions, shockwave, dry needling, and taping.