Tibialis Posterior Dysfunction / Tendinopathy
Treatment for Tibialis Posterior Dysfunction
If you are experiencing tibialis posterior dysfunction, our team can provide treatment to help improve your quality of life. This condition – like many others – requires professional diagnosis and personalised care. At The Foot Clinic, we work with you to improve your daily comfort through industry-reliable techniques.
Understanding Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy
This condition affects the main supporting tendon of the arch of the foot. It causes a progressive and degenerative change to the structure of the tendon and is most common in people with pes planus or flat feet. It is also fairly common among middle-aged women.
The condition causes localised pain inside the foot behind the medial ankle bone but can also track up towards the inside of the tibia (shin bone). The condition can, therefore, often be mistaken for “shin splints”.
Tibialis posterior tendinopathy can also coincide with other foot conditions, such as plantar fasciitis, and often receives similar treatment.
Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
There is quite a bit to unpack about tibialis posterior tendinopathy. We’ve compiled the necessary information below in three categories.
Symptoms
As mentioned, tibialis posterior tendinopathy includes pain or swelling at the ankle’s medial (inner side). This pain progressively worsens. The most notable symptom of this condition is the change in the shape of the foot, with most noting their feet have become “flatter”.
Causes
Pes planus or flat feet is the most common cause of tibialis posterior tendinopathy due to the increased strain on the small muscle and its tendon. Obesity is also a common risk factor as additional weight increases the force on the tendon.
Factors such as age, medications, and pre-existing health conditions can also increase the risk of developing this condition. It’s also important to note that specific sports – such as ballet – that require unsupportive footwear can also increase the risk of tibialis posterior tendinopathy.
Treatments
The main form of treatment is exercises to rehabilitate the tendon. These targeted exercises limit the progression of the condition and can – with persistence – even eliminate it. Tendons, being “avascular structures”, do not received much blood flow. Given this lowered blood flow, they can take between 6 to 12 weeks to heal.
Good, supportive footwear can help with the symptoms, but the condition ultimately requires orthotic therapy due to its complex nature. Orthotic therapy helps with both recovery and preventing the progression of the condition and aims to support the arch. This support means the tendon needs to do less work and can take its time to heal.
Custom orthotics work best in these cases since your podiatrist can tailor the correction and support to your individual foot shape and mechanics.
Book Your Session With Our Team Today
Left unattended, tibialis posterior tendinopathy can lead to a total rupture of the tendon and a complete collapse of the arch of the foot. This rupture and collapse would then require extensive surgery and rehabilitation.
Get ahead of the progression of tibialis posterior tendinopathy and book a session with one of our professionals now.
