What is Tendonitis?
Tendonitis is the irritation and or the inflammation of the tendon. The extensor tendon lifts the toes and the front of the foot upwards when walking; when irritated or inflamed it can cause pain on the top of the foot which can worsen with activity. Patients may also experience some swelling and stiffness in the foot, especially when first waking up in the morning.
Why have I got tendonitis?
Tendonitis is a less common form of foot pain along the top of the foot. However, factors that can increase the potential for developing this condition are:
- Being overweight
- Wearing inappropriate footwear, especially footwear that is too tight
- Engage in repetitive activities such as running, kicking or jumping, especially without warming up and/or not stretching after exercise
- Having pre-existing conditions such as flat feet
How do you Treat Tendonitis?
The most effective form of treatments for tendonitis are:
- Rest and ice treatments and elevation of the foot initially
- Prescribed exercises by your podiatrist to stretch the calf muscles in order to reduce the pressure on the tendon
- Bespoke orthotics which will help manage the mechanics of the foot and distribute the loading more effectively in order to reduce the potential for reoccurrence
- Physical therapy may be prescribed to regain strength, range of motion and flexibility
- In serious cases, Immobilisation using a brace of Air-cast boot
