Tendonitis In The Foot - why it hurts and what you can do about it

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Tendonitis In The Foot - why it hurts and what you can do about it

Sunday, March 18th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Pain in your foot? It may be tendonitis.

Tendonitis in the foot is an uncomfortable disorder that is experienced by individuals who work hard or have a history of working hard. In addition, tendonitis in the foot is a condition that can be experienced simply through the ongoing aging process.

Additionally, this tendonitis may occur through the onset of other medical issues. One of those medical issues could be rheumatoid arthritis.

The tendon is a strong fibrous cord that, anatomically, functions to hold muscles to the bones. The tendon can be likened to a strong rubber band or nylon cord. “Itis” is simply the Greek word for inflammation. Therefore, tendonitis simply means an inflammation of the tendon.

Posterior Tibial Tendon

The tendon that becomes inflamed in the condition known as tendonitis in the foot is the distal or far end of the posterior tibial tendon. The posterior tibial tendon is sheathed at the lower end of the muscle that is located on the back or posterior portion of the lower leg.

This particular tendon extends across the internal section of the ankle just underneath the bony prominence, down over the instep and further extends to the bottom of the foot. The function of this tendon is to support the curvature or arch of the foot which allows the foot to maintain its inward direction when the individual is walking.

Causes Of Tendonitis In The Foot

Tendonitis in the foot is a gradual disorder that usually worsens as the condition progress through its various stages. The first stage of tendonitis in the foot generally occurs in portion of the tendon that runs behind the bony prominence of the ankle. This particular bony prominence is called the medial malleolus.

The onset of this inflammation is often due to the aging process. One of the factors that help to maintain the suppleness of the tendon is through a protein called collagen.

Collagen is the same protein that maintains the pliability of the body’s skin. As we grow older, the production of collagen diminishes which in turn reduces the elasticity of the tendon.

Symptoms Of Tendonitis In The Foot

One of the major symptoms of tendonitis in the foot is the experiencing of pain in the arch or instep area of the foot. Along with this pain may be an accompanying edema or swelling that parallels the location of the posterior tibial tendon.

Also, if the tendon ruptures or breaks, the arch of the foot will lose its support. Therefore, there will be a very noticeable flattening of the foot. This condition is known as fallen arches and may precipitate other painful disorders. Those disorders include knee pain, tendonitis of the Achilles’ tendon, shin splints, etc. Surgery may be required to repair a ruptured tendon.

Non-Surgical Treatment Of Tendonitis In The Foot

There are two methods of treating tendonitis in the foot. One method is through non-surgical means while the other method is through surgery.

Typical non-surgical treatment methods include the use of a support for the arch of the foot. This support is simply achieved by placing an arch support product in the shoe. This arch support will help to sustain the foot and thereby relieve pressure that is placed upon the posterior tibial tendon.

Another non-surgical approach is for the individual to stay off their feet as much as possible. Also, to relieve the pain and to reduce the inflammation, the attending physician may prescribe certain mild pain relief medications or anti-inflammatory medicines.

[tags]tendonitis, foot tendonitis, tendon, pain, pain relief, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis[/tags]