What could be causing the pain in my ankle tendon?

Have you recently noticed that you’ve started experiencing pain on the inside of your ankle tendon? There might be a reason behind it. Ankle pain can be related to a number of conditions but can be difficult to treat if the source hasn’t been adequately identified. Approximately 9% to 15% of adults in the U.S. have foot or ankle problems throughout their lifetime. If you’re one of them, let’s work together to get to the bottom of it.

You can learn more about the causes of this type of ankle pain and how you can improve it with the help of an experienced physical therapist. Read on to find out what condition may be behind your pain, its cause, and how physical therapy can help treat it.

What might be behind the pain on the inside of my ankle tendon?

There is one most likely explanation for pain that occurs on the inside of the ankle tendon, which is:

• Posterior tibial tendinitis — Posterior tibial tendinitis occurs when the inside of your ankle becomes inflamed. The posterior tibial tendon connects the posterior tibial muscle to the bone in the foot. Inflammation of this tendon usually results from an injury or frequent overuse. The trouble with the posterior tibial tendon is that it’s located in an area of the foot that gets the least amount of blood flow. This makes it particularly difficult for the tendon to heal once it’s been injured or damaged.

What causes posterior tibial tendinitis?

The causes of posterior tibial tendinitis are usually acute injury or frequent overuse. This type of tendinitis is likely to result after a person experiences a sprain to their ankle or other injury during movement. Many athletes and active people sustain ankle injuries, which can develop into tendinitis if they aren’t given proper time to heal. Another source of posterior tibial tendinitis is frequent overuse. This means that for those with occupations that require frequent ankle movement, like retail store workers or furniture movers, inflammation of their tendons is more likely to occur due to poor ergonomics.

What are the signs of posterior tibial tendinitis?

You can tell if you may be dealing with posterior tibial tendinitis in a few different ways. The most common signs include:

• Pain or significant discomfort around the inside of the foot or ankle — If you’re experiencing significant pain or discomfort around the inside of the foot or ankle, this could be due to posterior tibial tendinitis. When moving your affected foot or ankle, you may feel pain, tenderness, swelling and weakness. You may also have trouble standing on your toes without experiencing pain or discomfort.

• Difficulty walking comfortably because of the foot or ankle — Another sign of tendinitis in the ankle, besides pain inside your ankle, is difficulty walking. You may find that the pain on the inside of your ankle makes it hard to walk without feeling uncomfortable. 

• Trouble walking steadily because of the foot or ankle — If you notice that you struggle to walk steadily because your foot or ankle is bothering you, this can be another sign of tendinitis. 

What happens if I don’t seek treatment for the tendon pain on the inside of my ankle?

If left untreated, you leave yourself vulnerable to developing a condition called adult-acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD). This condition, which is also referred to as fallen arch, can cause significant pain and discomfort around the area of the arches in the feet and can even lead the ligaments and joints in the foot to become out of alignment. It’s important to seek treatment for your tendon pain, even if you think you may not need it, to prevent it from developing into a new or worse condition.

Back in Motion can treat your inside ankle tendon pain

Our team of physical therapy professionals at Back in Motion Physical Therapy can identify the source of your ankle pain on the inside of your tendon. We’ll use a variety of treatments and techniques to treat your ankle, including manual therapy, strength training, and stability exercises. At Back in Motion, we’re committed to doing our best to improve your pain and help you get back to feeling your best. Don’t let posterior tibial tendinitis hold you back from doing the daily activities you love any longer. We can get you back on track and help you improve your walking abilities, balance and gait too.

If you have any questions or concerns about how else we can improve the condition of your ankle, we encourage you to reach out to us. Let us walk you through the treatment process and the additional specialty programs we offer. 
Start your treatment with us as soon as possible. Contact us today to schedule your initial appointment.