Ankle > Peroneal Tendon Disorders > Treatments

   Rest

Treatment Introduction

Your physician may prescribe four to six weeks of relative rest to treat peroneal tendinitis. During this time, you should refrain from sports and other activities that could aggravate your pain, and lie or sit down with your ankle elevated for a few hours at a time every day until pain subsides. Remember that the weight of your body puts pressure on your ankle, thereby lengthening recovery time. Elevate your ankle above the level of your heart to help control swelling. Try to prop your ankle up on a couple of pillows when lying down or sleeping. Initially, your physician may recommend applying ice packs to the ankle for about 20 minutes every three or four hours. You will probably need to do this for two or three days or until the pain subsides, and you may need to do it after exercise or activities. One effective way to apply ice is to use a bag of frozen vegetables, which molds easily to the shape of the injured area. It won’t leak and it can be re-used. (Warning: do not eat the contents after thawing and re-freezing.) To help you get around, your physician may prescribe a removable air cast that can be worn inside your shoes. You typically are prescribed pain medication as needed, depending on the severity of your peroneal tendinitis. Most patients receive adequate pain relief from non-prescription painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen. Your physician usually recommends resting until your symptoms quiet down. Once inflammation and pain have subsided, you should visit your physician for a check-up to see if it is safe to begin stretching and strengthening your ankle.

Rehabilitation

When recovering from a peroneal tendon disorder, your physician will decide when it is appropriate to visit a physical therapist to begin stretching and strengthening exercises for your ankle. Most patients begin range of motion exercises within a few days after peroneal tendinitis is diagnosed. You may not need formal physical therapy if you make good progress following your physician’s instructions and strengthening your ankle on your own. The rehabilitation period after a peroneal tendon disorder can vary. In general, you may be able to restore strength to your peroneal tendon in one to two months and it may take two to three months of exercise before you are ready to return to sports and activities. The goal is to strengthen your peroneal tendon enough to support your body weight and control your foot and ankle motion during activities. You should stretch your ankle three times a day with basic range of motion exercises. You typically progress from range of motion exercises to light cardiovascular exercise and then strengthening exercises. If you experience episodes of pain or discomfort while exercising, have your physician examine your ankle.

   Ankle stretching exercises

   Ankle strengthening exercises

To prevent reinjury of your ankle, you should strengthen your peroneal tendons. Physicians often recommend proprioceptive training, which includes training with a special balance board (BAPS board) that rolls on top of a ball. Increasing your ankle strength and balance can help you better withstand strain on your ankle during activities. The peroneal tendons prevent inward turning of your ankle (inversion) and are responsible for the stability of your ankle. It is difficult to determine who may be prone to future peroneal tendon injuries, but people with weak tendons generally have a tendency to invert their ankle and suffer an ankle sprain or reinjure their peroneal tendons. Though you usually do not have any restrictions on your activities after peroneal tendinitis, you should be cautious when running on uneven surfaces or engaging in high-velocity sports that may cause twists or falls.