
Nonsurgical treatments that are common in cases of peroneal tendonitis include:
- Immobilization: Stopping the foot and ankle from moving using a boot or support.
- Medication: Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can help relieve pain and swelling.
- Physical therapy: Ice, heat, and ultrasound therapy can reduce pain and swelling. Once the symptoms improve, introduce exercises that strengthen the muscles and improve balance and motion.
- Bracing: Some people may require a brace for use during activities that involve repetitive ankle motion.
- Cortisone injection: In rare cases, doctors may recommend this powerful anti-inflammatory medication. However, if cortisone is injected into the peroneal tendons, there is a chance of rupture.
- Bracing: An ankle brace can support and stabilize your ankle if you have to perform certain movements, like running or jumping.
- Immobilization: You might need a soft cast or boot to immobilize your foot and take weight off your tendons so they can heal.
What causes pain on the outside of the ankle?
What Is Chronic Lateral Ankle Pain?
- Symptoms. Pain, usually on the outer side of the ankle, may be so intense that you have difficulty walking or participating in sports.
- Causes. The most common cause for a persistently painful ankle is incomplete healing after an ankle sprain. ...
- Prevention. ...
- Diagnosis. ...
- Treatments. ...
How to heal torn ankle tendons?
The power of ankle rehab
- Support and encourage the healthy flow of blood, nutrients and immune cells to the injured area.
- Support and encourage the removal of waste and debris from the injured area.
- Safely and gently use flexibility training to improve range of motion.
- Safely and gently use stability exercises to improve tendon stability.
Why is the outside of my ankle swollen?
What causes a swollen ankle?
- Fluid problems. Vein issues. ...
- Physical causes. Walking all day or exercising more than usual puts strain on the ankles that may lead to temporary inflammation and swelling.
- Other medical concerns. Hormones and other effects of pregnancy make the body hold on to more fluid and reduce venous return from the lower extremities and increase the amount of ...
How to fix peroneal tendonitis?
Typical treatment of peroneal tendonitis is accomplished with some simple steps, including:
- Ice application: Applying ice to the area can help to reduce swelling and help to control pain.
- Rest: Rest is key and often helped with the use of a supportive device, or crutches in severe cases.
- Walking boot/ankle brace: Braces and boots provide support and can reduce stress on the tendons and allow for rest and inflammation to subside.

How do you treat pain on the outside of your ankle?
Outer Ankle Pain Treatments: Non-Surgical and SurgicalAnti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce swelling.Physical therapy to strengthen muscles and restore range of motion.Use an ankle brace or custom orthotics.Steroid injections.
How do you fix tendon pain in ankle?
How is tendonitis diagnosed and treated?Resting the affected area.Icing the tendon to reduce inflammation.Anti-inflammatory pain relievers.Exercises to strengthen muscles and reduce stress on tendons.Supportive shoes or custom orthotics.Splint or brace.Physical therapy and rehabilitation.
How long does it take for a peroneal tendon to heal?
Peroneal tendinitis generally takes 6-8 weeks to improve and early activity on a healing tendon can result in a set back in recovery. Non-compliance can double the recovery time and can be very frustrating for patients. Early and aggressive conservative treatment is recommended to prevent further tendon injury. Dr.
How long does ankle tendonitis take to heal?
Tendonitis is when a tendon swells (becomes inflamed) after a tendon injury. It can cause joint pain, stiffness, and affect how a tendon moves. You can treat mild tendon injuries yourself and should feel better within 2 to 3 weeks.
What helps tendons heal faster?
Full body immersion cryotherapy and localized cryotherapy can both be used to speed up tendon injury healing. The extreme cold stimulates blood flow, tissue regeneration, and boosts tendon healing.
Is walking good for ankle tendonitis?
Appropriate shoe gear, walking rather than running when you start an exercise program, and movements that strengthen your ankles and improve range of motion can help prevent tendonitis.
Is walking good for peroneal tendonitis?
With peroneal tendonitis, you may benefit from physical therapy to help improve your pain and function related to walking and running. Your therapist can determine the impairments that may be causing your tendon pain.
What is the fastest way to heal tendonitis in the ankle?
This treatment can help speed your recovery and help prevent further problems.Rest. Avoid activities that increase the pain or swelling. ... Ice. To decrease pain, muscle spasm and swelling, apply ice to the injured area for up to 20 minutes several times a day. ... Compression. ... Elevation.
How do you treat peroneal tendonitis at home?
Home Treatment Options For Peroneal Tendonitis-Caused PainResting your foot as much as possible with it elevated to reduce ankle pressure is a good strategy.Icing your ankle – you can use a freezer gel pack, or use a plastic bag with some ice wrapped in a cloth, then place it on your ankle.More items...•
Is it better to ice or heat tendonitis?
For general chronic stiffness, heat may work better. To help with overuse issues such as tendonitis and tendinosis. “I tend to favor ice early on as there is potentially more inflammation at this stage,” says Dr. Wang.
Does massage help tendonitis?
For people suffering from tendonitis, it can help with pain relief and speed up the recovery process. Since tendonitis can take weeks to heal, using a massage therapy program to both relax and strengthen the inflamed tendon can give the sufferer a better chance of a full and speedy recovery.
Is heat good for tendonitis?
Heat may be more helpful for chronic tendon pain, often called tendinopathy or tendinosis. Heat can increase blood flow, which may help promote healing of the tendon. Heat also relaxes muscles, which can relieve pain.
What is the best treatment for tendonitis in the ankle?
The best treatments for ankle tendonitis are rest, medication, home care, physical therapy and surgery. Tendonitis in the ankle can occur due to an injury, repetitive movements, or underlying issues.
What causes pain in the ankle?
There are a few common kinds of tendonitis that affect the ankles: 1 Achilles tendonitis refers to inflammation of the Achilles tendon that connects the calf muscles to the ankle. This pain occurs along the back of the ankle. 2 If you feel pain along the outer side of your ankle, you may have peroneal tendonitis. 3 Anterior tibialis tendonitis results in pain down the front of the shin. 4 Posterior tibial tendonitis often presents as pain and swelling along the inner side of the ankle and foot.
What is the pain in the front of the shin?
Anterior tibialis tendonitis results in pain down the front of the shin. Posterior tibial tendonitis often presents as pain and swelling along the inner side of the ankle and foot. Other common ankle ailments include sprains, fractures, and arthritis.
What is the pain in the back of the ankle?
Achilles tendonitis refers to inflammation of the Achilles tendon that connects the calf muscles to the ankle. This pain occurs along the back of the ankle. If you feel pain along the outer side of your ankle, you may have peroneal tendonitis. Anterior tibialis tendonitis results in pain down the front of the shin.
Why does my ankle swell?
You may also notice swelling on or around the ankle. The ankle is vulnerable to tendonitis and other injuries because it supports your body weight. Also, as a multi-directional joint, it allows you to point, lift, and rotate your foot. There are a few common kinds of tendonitis that affect the ankles:
Why does my ankle hurt?
Ankle pain is commonly due to a sprain or tendinitis. The severity of ankle sprains ranges from mild (which can resolve within 24 hours) to severe (which can require surgical repair). Tendinitis of the ankle can be caused by trauma or inflammation.
What is tendonitis in ankle?
What is tendonitis in the ankle? Tendons are the cords of tissue that attach your muscles to your bones. When a tendon gets inflamed, you experience tendonitis (also known as tendinitis). Repetitive movements and gradual overuse are common causes, but sometimes a sports injury may cause tendonitis.
How to help sore ankles?
Apply ice or cold compresses for 20 minutes at a time. While cold compresses and ice are helpful for swelling, recent medical studies have shown that applying heat to sore areas is equally therapeutic for soreness. Compression can mean applying an ACE wrap or other store-bought ankle support if necessary.
What is the tendon on the inside of the ankle called?
Posterior Tibial Tendonitis (Inner Side of Ankle) Posterior tibial tendonitis is usually associated with flat feet. The tendon of the tibialis posterior muscle wraps around the inside (big toe side) of the ankle ( medial malleolus) and instep of the foot. That area is the usual site of pain and swelling.
What is the term for inflammation of the tendon in the leg?
The muscles of the leg, foot, and ankle are anchored to the bone by tendons, which are strong, cord-like structures. Tendonitis is an inflammation surrounding a tendon. You will have pain with activity and it usually goes away with rest, only to return again. 1 .
What does it mean when your foot hurts?
A Word From Verywell. Pain in your foot or ankle from tendonitis is a signal that you need to take it easy. If the pain continues, see your doctor to get treatment advice. While it may mean weeks away from your favorite activities, the aim is to prevent complications that can sideline you for even longer.
What causes tendonitis in the foot?
Trauma: A foot or ankle injury can cause tendonitis. This can occur with a sudden, powerful motion like jumping. Another form of trauma is chronic rubbing against a shoe, which most often occurs at the top of the foot or heel, resulting in tendonitis in those areas. 7 .
How to prevent tendonitis?
One of the best ways to prevent tendonitis is to do foot and ankle stretching exercises before activity. 12 Tight muscles put extra strain on your tendons. You also should wear appropriate shoes and avoid worn-out athletic shoes. When you start a new activity or sport, increase your time and intensity gradually.
Where is the Achilles tendon located?
The Achilles tendon is the large tendon that attaches the calf muscles to the back of the heel. Achilles tendonitis is characterized by pain that is located 1 to 4 inches above the area where the tendon attaches to the heel bone. This is the weakest part of the tendon and is usually the spot where tendon tears occur.
What is the term for a swollen tendons on the outside of the ankle?
Peroneal Tendonitis (Tendinopathy) Peroneal tendonitis is an overuse injury causing inflammation and degeneration of the peroneal tendons resulting in pain on the outside of the ankle. Here we explain the symptoms, causes and treatment for peroneal tendonitis.
How to help with swelling in ankle?
This will help reduce swelling, pain, and inflammation. Ice or cold therapy can be applied for 10 minutes every hour to begin with, reducing frequency as your symptoms improve. Ankle support/brace – wear a peroneal tendonitis brace to protect and support your ankle.
What muscles are in the peroneal muscles?
The peroneal muscles. The Peroneal muscles consist of the Peroneus longus (long) and Peroneus brevis (short) at the back & outside of the lower leg. The bony bit on the outside of the ankle is called lateral malleolus. The peroneal tendons pass down the back and underneath the lateral malleolus. Overuse causes the peroneal tendons to rub on ...
Why does my foot rub when I run?
This is because the peroneal tendon is stretched more across the bone, therefore increasing friction. Tight calf muscles will increase the tension in the peroneal tendon, so causing it to rub more.
Why does my calf rub?
Tight calf muscles will increase the tension in the peroneal tendon, so causing it to rub more. Overtraining is also a contributory factor, particularly in dancers or basketball players. Biomechanical factors such as overpronation, or oversupination are factors, increasing friction between your tendon and ankle bone.
How to diagnose a peroneal tendon injury?
A professional therapist may perform a number of tests to help diagnose your injury. They will stretch your peroneal muscles. This is done by inverting your foot (turning it inwards). If this is painful then the test is positive. In addition they will stress your peroneal tendon.
How to reduce tension in calf?
Tight peroneal muscles will increase the friction between the peroneal tendon and the bone. Gently stretching the muscles over time will reduce the tension in your muscle.
How to heal ankle tendons?
Here are the main steps to healing ankle tendons with an excellent rehab program…. Support and encourage the healthy flow of blood, nutrients and immune cells to the injured area. Support and encourage the removal of waste and debris from the injured area. Safely and gently use flexibility training to improve range of motion.
What to do if you have tendons in your ankle?
So, if you have tendons in the ankle that have been injured, please see a doctor and if possible, begin a good ankle rehab program as soon as possible.
What is HEM ankle rehab?
HEM Ankle Rehab is a complete ankle healing system that works for torn tendons, ligaments, any new ankle sprain as well as all other types of ankle, foot and calf injuries. We designed HEM to ensure it is safe and easy to do for people of all ages and activity levels. HEM ensures you will be able to move pain free while also significantly reducing the risk of future injury.
How to rehab ankles?
The power of ankle rehab 1 Support and encourage the healthy flow of blood, nutrients and immune cells to the injured area. 2 Support and encourage the removal of waste and debris from the injured area. 3 Safely and gently use flexibility training to improve range of motion. 4 Safely and gently use stability exercises to improve tendon stability. 5 Safely and gently use strength exercises to improve overall tendon and muscle strength in the ankle, foot and calf.
Why are tendon and ligament important?
When the muscle moves, the tendon has to bring the bone along with it safely. Since, ligaments connect bone to bone, they are important for stability. Tendons are also important for stability, but more so for flexibility. They help you get in and out of different ranges of motion safely. Have a look at the various tendons in the ankle below.
How to improve tendon stability?
Safely and gently use flexibility training to improve range of motion. Safely and gently use stability exercises to improve tendon stability. Safely and gently use strength exercises to improve overall tendon and muscle strength in the ankle, foot and calf. There are some very powerful and safe techniques that have been proven to significantly ...
Does ice help with inflammation?
In short, ice attempts to stop the inflammation process and also sabotages steps two and three ( the repair and remodel) by blocking the flow of immune cells to the injured area. Ice also has the negative effect of stopping lymphatic drainage, which sabotages your body’s attempt to remove the waste from the injury.
What is the pain on the outside of the foot?
Pain on the outside of the foot (side of the pinky toe) is a common problem we treat in our Seattle foot and ankle clinic. In most cases outside of the foot pain responds well to treatment.
What to wear if you have peroneal tendonitis?
Wear an Ankle Brace if you have Peroneal Tendonitis. One of the more common types of pain on the outside of the foot is peroneal tendonitis. If you have pain in your peroneal tendons then using an ankle brace will help reduce tension on the peroneal tendons to allow healing.
What to do if your foot hurts while waiting for an appointment?
If you continue to have pain, see a podiatrist. While waiting for your appointment protect your foot by wearing a walking boot . A walking boot offers the best possible protection while still allowing you to bear weight.
What is arch support?
Use Arch Support Sandals to Transfer Pressure off of the Outside of Your Feet. When you are not wearing shoes wear Vionic flip flops, sandals or slippers. Vionic sandals and slippers have exceptional arch support and will transfer pressure off of the outside of the foot onto the mid-arch area.
What to wear when you are not wearing shoes?
When you are not wearing shoes wear Vionic flip flops, sandals or slippers. Vionic sandals and slippers have exceptional arch support and will transfer pressure off of the outside of the foot onto the mid-arch area. There are many styles and all of them have this great arch support.
What is the pain in the top of the foot called?
Dorsal Compression Syndrome – Achy pain with activity that is more toward the top of the foot, rather than the side. Often due to flattening of the arch causing compression between the bones. This condition responds very well to conservative treatment focused on supporting the arch.
How to get rid of a bunion bump on the outside of your foot?
Stretch your Shoes. If you have a tailor’s bunion bump on the outside of your foot and your shoe is pressing on it too hard and causing pain, you can stretch your shoe in this area. The easiest way is to use a “ ball and ring shoe stretcher “.
Overview
Foot tendonitis (tendinitis) is inflammation or irritation of a tendon in your foot. Tendons are strong bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Overuse usually causes foot tendonitis, but it can also be the result of an injury.
Symptoms and Causes
Foot tendonitis is usually chronic, meaning it develops over time when you put repeated stress on the tendons in your foot. But tendonitis can also happen suddenly if you overstretch the tendon, over-rotate your ankle or use improper technique when running, jumping or playing sports.
Diagnosis and Tests
Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and review your symptoms. They may palpate (press) on certain parts of your foot, ankle or calf. They’re checking for areas of swelling and tenderness. Your provider may also ask you to perform certain movements to assess your range of motion, strength and the severity of your pain.
Management and Treatment
In most cases, your healthcare provider will recommend at-home treatments such as RICE to manage foot tendon pain:
What exercises can be done to restore a tendon?
Heckman and others at the University of North Carolina, treatment should include rest (obviously), stretching, strengthening. And proprioceptive exercises to restore proper functioning of the tendon. 7.
Where does peroneal tendonitis occur?
It can occur at the insertion point of the tendons. Along the outside edge of your fifth metatarsal bone. Or further up along the outside of your ankle.
How many peroneal tendons are there?
There are actually two peroneal tendons. The peroneus longus and the peroneus brevis, which run parallel to each other. Connecting the outside of your foot to the peroneus longus and brevis muscles in your lower leg.
What is the sore spot on the outside of my foot?
And when you search for running injuries, the sore spot and tender area just does not seem to match anything. Peroneal tendonitis, also referred to as peroneal tendinopathy, is a rare but aggravating injury. It can cause pain in the outside of your foot. And up the outside of your lower leg when you run.
Why do runners end up with injuries?
One of the main reasons runners end up with injuries is because they are overstriding.
Can runners get peroneal tendonitis?
The only reports extant in the medical literature analyze a relatively small number of cases. However, one risk factor does seem to stand out.
Is tendonitis a degenerative disease?
As with all cases of “tendonitis,” the problem is really one of degeneration and damage , not inflammation. So a more proper term would be “peroneal tendinopathy” or “peroneal tendon dysfunction.”. However, since the term tendonitis is still more common, that’s what this article will use.

Types of Tendonitis
Tendonitis Symptoms
Causes
- Several things may cause tendonitis. You have more control over some of the causes than others. For example, you can be careful to stretch and not overuse your muscles. However, you can't control your foot structure or whether you develop certain health conditions. Common causes of tendonitis include: 1. Overuse: The most common cause of tendonitis is overuse. This usually m…
Diagnosis
- Your healthcare provider will take your medical history and may order X-rays or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. These tests will help your healthcare provider see whether you have a broken bone, calcification (a build-up of calcium in the tendon), or if your tendon has torn. Knowing the source of the pain will help guide treatment. For example, a torn tendon must be ke…
Treatment
- The general idea for treating foot and ankle tendonitis is to rest the injury so the body can heal. This takes time, usually weeks to months. You may be able to manage your tendonitis with self-care until it heals, but if it doesn't get better, you should see a healthcare provider.
Prevention
- One of the best ways to prevent tendonitis is by doing foot and ankle stretches before exercise.12Tight muscles put extra strain on your tendons. You also should wear shoes that offer plenty of support and avoid worn-out sneakers. Finally, when you start a new activity or sport, increase your time and intensity gradually.
Summary
- Tendonitis causes pain and swelling in the tendons of your foot and ankle. There are several types of tendonitis, each affecting different parts of the ankle or foot. Tendonitis can be caused by overuse, injury, foot problems, and some medical conditions—and often it's a combination of these factors. The first line of treatment is resting the ankle. Your healthcare provider may also …
A Word from Verywell
- Pain in your foot or ankle from tendonitis is a sign that you need to take it easy. If the pain continues despite rest, see your healthcare provider. They will help you find a treatment plan that works for you. While it may mean weeks away from your favorite activities, the goal is to prevent complications that can sideline you for even longer.