Peroneal tendinopathy and shin pain
After spending last week at the snow and waking up this week with very
tender shins, it spurred a thought to write a blog on the painful symptoms people experience on the outside of their shinbones. More specifically, I’ll be discussing peroneal tendinopathy and the best way to manage them!
What are the peroneals?
The peroneals refer to the group of muscles that attach on the outside of your shin bone and run behind the ankle down into the foot. They are mostly responsible for the stability and strength of the outside of your foot/ ankle, and acts to plantarflex (point your foot down) and evert (pull out) your foot.
Peroneal tendinopathy refers to the pain and dysfunction of the peroneal muscles. This can occur for a number of reasons, and can be quite debilitating for some people. Having them appropriately managed and diagnosed will be essential!
What are the symptoms for peroneal tendinopathy?
The symptoms you experience may differ based on the type of injury you have, ie. injury to the muscle belly vs the tendon. Below are some common peroneal tendinopathy symptoms:
- Pain on the outside of the ankle behind the large bony prominence
- Pain when touching the outerside of your lower leg
- Pain when rolling your foot & ankle inwards
- Pain while stretching the foot in both an upwards and downwards direction
- Swelling around the ankle
What causes peroneal tendinopathy?
Pain and dysfunction of the peroneal tendons are mostly seen in active populations, particularly in explosive sports such as running, basketball, tennis and dancing. Common causes that may lead to peroneal tendinopathy may include:
If you have found that a number of these points apply to you and you’ve experienced recurring shin pains, booking an appointment to have your lower legs assessed & diagnosed will be necessary to getting on top of your symptoms long-term!
What are the treatments for peroneal tendinopathies?
Despite there being a number of causes for a peroneal tendinopathy, there is plenty your podiatrist can do to help manage your symptoms and get you walking pain free again. Possible treatment options may include:
- Implementing a period of reduced training/ reduced activity
- Strapping and taping to help offload the tendon
- Strengthening and stretching exercises
- Orthotic therapy to adjust your foot position to reduce loading of the tendon
- Footwear recommendations for your specific foot type
- Shockwave therapy
- Manual therapy
The most important factor for treating your peroneal tendinopathy and outer-shin pain will be managing your exercise and activity load. Those playing sports should have a period of reduced activity then slowly build back your resilience to exercise.
If you think you’ve been struggling from a peroneal tendinopathy, be sure to book an appointment at The Movement Centre today. Our team of podiatrists are experts at managing all foot and lower leg conditions, and would love to get you back on your feet pain free!
