Within your feet, tendons serve important functions like supporting your arch and moving your ankle joint. At Kenneth Meisler, DPM, PLLC & Associates on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, you can get top-tier care for tendinitis affecting your feet and ankles and support as you work to rehabilitate the injury. To learn more about tendinitis and podiatric tendinitis care, call Kenneth Meisler, DPM, PLLC & Associates or schedule an appointment online today.

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What is tendinitis?

Tendinitis means tendon inflammation, and it can affect any tendon in your body. Your tendons are bands of tough tissue that connect muscle to bone, and they normally help you move your joints. Tendinitis often happens when you overuse a specific tendon, which causes tiny tears and inflammation across its length.

You’re at an increased risk for tendinitis if you don’t stretch and warm up before a workout or if you have naturally tight tendons due to arthritis, flat feet, and other pre-existing problems affecting your foot.

The primary symptom of tendinitis is pain, which tends to flare up when you move the affected part of your body. You might also notice some swelling in the region. An X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can rule out other causes of these issues and help lead to a tendinitis diagnosis.

Which types of tendinitis are common in the feet?

Tendinitis tends to affect your feet and ankles in specific places. Some of the most common types of tendinitis in the feet and ankles are:

Achilles tendinitis

Achilles tendinitis is an inflamed achilles tendon, which is the tendon connecting your calf to your heal. This is the most common type of tendinitis that podiatrsits see.

Posterior tibial tendinitis

This form of tendinitis affects one of the tendons supporting the arch of your foot. When this tendon is torn or inflamed, it struggles to support and stabilize your foot.

Peroneal tendinitis

This tendinitis affects one of the tendons connecting your leg to your foot. It often appears after an ankle injury such as an ankle sprain.

How can I manage tendinitis?

Your podiatrist at Kenneth Meisler, DPM, PLLC & Associates creates a treatment plan for you that eases pain and swelling while supporting or restoring tendon function. Most cases of tendinitis are manageable with nonsurgical care such as:

  • Custom orthotics
  • Immobilization
  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Shockwave therapy
  • Physical therapy and exercises

You visit with your podiatrist at Kenneth Meisler, DPM, PLLC & Associates regularly as you go through treatment so they can track your progress and any improvements in your symptoms. If the pain doesn’t go away after six months of treatment, surgery might be the nest logical step.

To learn more about tendinitis treatment and prevention, call Kenneth Meisler, DPM, PLLC & Associates or schedule an appointment online today.