What initially causes posterior tibial tendonitis?
The initial cause is not exactly known, however obesity, overuse, different forms of arthritis and trauma can lead to posterior tibial tendonitis. How is posterior tibial tendonitis diagnosed? Posterior tibial tendonitis is diagnosed by physical exam by a trained physician. Usually pain along the course of the tendon and resistance testing against contraction of the posterior tibial muscle is enough to diagnose this entity. As the problem progresses, X-ray and MRI can be beneficial in assessing the severity of the tendonitis. Routine labs are not beneficial to diagnose posterior tibial tendonitis, but can help to identify other potential causes of ankle pain. What is the treatment? Usually the treatment is conservative including rest from strenuous or precipitating activities. The following link contains great information on treating tendonitis. Physical therapy (PT) can also be ordered to strengthen and stretch the muscles and soft tissues around the ankle. Also, certain additional tr
