Chiropractic Care for Peroneal Tendonitis

Peroneal tendonitis occurs when one or both of your ankle tendons are inflamed. The ankle tendon connects the lower leg to the foot. In many cases, it’s caused by overuse of the tendon, but it can also occur if you experience a sudden injury.

In most instances, especially with sudden injuries like sprains, the pain and swelling goes away within a few weeks.

Often, treatment isn’t even needed. Inflammation is a response to injury. It supports healing. However, if inflammation becomes chronic, it can cause complications and lead to ongoing discomfort.

Chiropractic care can help you treat these issues. It’s a safe, all-natural option for treating inflammation throughout the body. If you’re experiencing pain and stiffness in one or both of your ankles and you suspect it’s linked to peroneal tendonitis, a chiropractic adjustment can help.

How to Identify Peroneal Tendonitis 

Your healthcare provider can help you identify peroneal tendonitis. It’s also possible to self-diagnose. Some of the things that put you at greater risk of peroneal tendonitis include:

• Age (risk is higher over 40)
• Lack of stretching, especially before physical activity
• Diabetes
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout
• Previous tendon injury
• High arches
• Obesity
• Tightness in the tendons
• Smoking

With peroneal tendonitis, you may be able to feel a nodule or lump around the ankle tendon, but this isn’t always the case. It’s essential to get checked by a healthcare professional to rule out any more serious conditions that could be causing the symptoms.

Symptoms

• Ankle pain, especially along the tendon
• Pain that worsens with activity
• Swelling
• Redness
• Warmth around the tendon
• Thickened or swollen tendon

Common Causes

Peroneal tendonitis usually develops over time and is caused by overuse. It’s also possible that an acute ankle injury, such as a sprain, can cause peroneal tendonitis.

Why It's Important for Ankle Injuries to Heal Properly

Ankle injuries must heal properly. Otherwise, you can experience long-term complications. In some cases, the complications are worse than the initial injury.

Ensuring that ankle injuries heal correctly reduces the risk of:

• Chronic ankle pain
• Ankle joint arthritis
• Joint instability
• Bone infection
• Nerve damage or dysfunction
• Blood vessel damage
• Compartment syndrome
• Prolonged pain
• Stiffness
• Persistent swelling

Benefits of Treating Peroneal Tendonitis with Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care offers many benefits when it comes to treating peroneal tendonitis. For example, a chiropractic adjustment can:

1. Help reduce inflammation
2. Help you manage pain
3. Break down scar tissue
4. Provide you with guidance on at-home stretching
5. Offer information for treating inflammation, muscle tightness, and pain at home

Dr. Darren Faherty D.C.

In 2004, Dr. Darren Faherty graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from UWEC - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Dr. Darren continued education at the highly esteemed University of Western States (formerly Western States Chiropractic College) where he obtained his chiropractic degree in 2007. He has been helping people recover from injuries and return to their normal lifestyles ever since.