What Is Tendinopathy?
Tendinopathy is a condition that refers to inflammation of a tendon, a band of tissue that connects muscle to bone and helps you move. Foot tendonitis can affect any of the tendons in and around the foot and ankle, including the Achilles, tibialis posterior, peroneal, and tibialis anterior tendons. The main symptom of tendonitis is pain, swelling and tenderness along the tendon itself. However, it can also include weakness and stiffness around the affected area.
The cause of tendonitis varies. However, it is often due to a sudden increase in activity levels, poor footwear choices or biomechanical issues. Our podiatrists at Highett Podiatry will be able to assess the cause of your pain and work with you to get you back to your optimum fitness level and reduce the risk of recurrence.
What Causes Tendonitis?
Tendonitis develops when load on a tendon repeatedly exceeds its ability to recover. Common contributing factors include:
- A sudden increase in training volume, intensity or frequency
- Poor or unsupportive footwear
- Overpronation, flat feet or biomechanical issues that increase strain on specific tendons
- Tight calf muscles or limited ankle range of motion
- Returning to activity too quickly after a period of rest
- Age-related changes in tendon tissue strength and elasticity
Signs and Symptoms of Foot Tendonitis
- Pain and tenderness along the affected tendon (often worse with movement)
- Swelling and warmth around the tendon
- Stiffness, particularly first thing in the morning or after rest
- An inflamed tendon in the foot or ankle that’s painful to touch
- Reduced strength or difficulty pushing off when walking
- Pain that worsens with activity and eases with rest, then returns
If symptoms have persisted for more than two weeks or are affecting how you walk, it’s worth getting assessed before the condition becomes chronic.
How We Treat It
Treatment for tendonitis can include a range of approaches and will vary from case to case. Our clinic provides ultrasound imaging of the tendons to determine the extent of your injury and help work out the best treatment plan for you. Options may include:
- Footwear modifications — ensuring your shoes provide adequate support and aren’t contributing to tendon overload
- Orthotic therapy — custom orthotics to address biomechanical contributors such as overpronation or high arches
- Therapeutic ultrasound — to support tissue healing and reduce inflammation
- Massage and soft tissue therapy — to address muscle tightness around the affected tendon
- Dry needling — targeting trigger points that contribute to tendon tension and overload
- Strengthening and return-to-exercise programs — progressive loading to rebuild tendon strength and tolerance to activity
Most cases of tendonitis respond well to conservative treatment within six to twelve weeks.
Why Choose Highett Podiatry?
Foot tendonitis is one of the most common presentations across our Highett and Mentone clinics. Our podiatrists take a load-based approach to treatment, which means we focus on what the tendon can handle and progressively build from there, rather than simply resting and hoping for improvement. You will also have direct access to medical imaging services in our clinic, so diagnosis and treatment can begin in the same visit where appropriate.
If you believe that you may be suffering from tendonitis, please give our clinic a call on 9555 3044 or book an appointment online to organise an initial consult with one of our podiatrists. No referral required.