Peroneal tendon injuries affect the tough bands of tissue in the foot that connect muscles to bones. People have two peroneal tendons in each foot, running parallel to each other behind the outer ankle bone.
Peroneal tendonitis is often seen in athletes who play sports requiring them to run and jump. The injury can result from a sudden twisting motion or lateral ankle sprain that stretches the ankle’s outer ligaments too far. This can result in tearing of the tendons. Overuse of the tendons is another common cause, usually occurring due to running on uneven surfaces, wearing poor running shoes, or chronic ankle instability from an ankle sprain or other injury.
Peroneal tendonitis is often associated with burning pain along the outside of the foot, ankle, and lower leg that increases with activity and decreases with rest. Peroneal tendon tears have similar symptoms to tendonitis but athletes may also experience a sharp, tearing kind of pain. Common symptoms may include:
Your doctor can diagnose peroneal tendon injuries. During a clinic visit, your doctor will perform a physical exam and take a full medical history. In some cases, your doctor will order imaging tests such as:
If your pain is affecting your ability to perform your daily activities, your doctor may recommend a nonsurgical treatment such as:
There are several things that people can do to try and avoid getting peroneal tendonitis:
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For our patient’s convenience, we offer foot and ankle treatments for all kinds of conditions such as Peroneal tendon injuries in Adrian, MI, Peroneal tendon injuries in Ann Arbor, MI, and Peroneal tendon injuries in Jackson, MI. We have our own digital x-ray, MRI, Cat-scan, and ultrasound equipment at many of our podiatry clinics. Our on-site podiatric physical therapy clinics allow for constant communication between the physicians and physical therapists, ensuring the most effective therapy and successful recovery for our patients.