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Running, playing tennis, and engaging in other high-impact activities can put a lot of stress on the tendons of your feet and ankles and increase your risk for tendonitis. At Ledesma Foot and Ankle, Paul Ledesma, DPM, Scott Shindler, DPM, and Jaminelli Banks, DPM, specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of tendonitis in kids and adults. They offer nonsurgical strategies, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to help injured tendons heal fully. The podiatrists can also perform minimally invasive surgery to repair a ruptured tendon. Call the Scottsdale, Arizona, office today to schedule a tendonitis evaluation or request an appointment online.
What is tendonitis?
Your tendons are thick, fibrous cords that anchor your muscles to bone. Tendonitis describes a condition where your tendons become irritated or inflamed by an injury or underlying condition.
Tendonitis can affect any tendon in your body, including those in your ankles and feet. You may be at increased risk for tendonitis if you play sports or work in a job that requires repetitive movements.
Other risk factors for tendonitis include:
- Aging
- Wearing unsupportive shoes
- Running on hard surfaces
- Improper healing of ankle or foot injuries
Ledesma Foot and Ankle provides comprehensive care for tendonitis in children and adults. The experienced podiatrists focus on nonsurgical treatments to reduce inflammation and pain and enhance the function of your foot or ankle.
What are the symptoms of tendonitis?
Tendonitis can cause acute or chronic symptoms in your foot or ankle, including:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Reduced joint range of motion
If tendonitis persists without treatment, the tendon could rupture and tear away from the bone.
Ledesma Foot and Ankle offers on-site X-rays and other imaging tests to evaluate the health of your tendons and identify tissue tears. The podiatrists customize a care plan to ease your symptoms and improve the function of the injured foot or ankle.
How is tendonitis treated?
In early stages of tendonitis, you may be able to manage pain and other symptoms with rest, activity modifications, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatories. You can also use an ice pack to alleviate swelling.
If these home care remedies aren’t working well, the Ledesma Foot and Ankle team may recommend:
- Physical therapy
- Oral steroids
- Prescription pain relievers
- Steroid injections
- Shockwave therapy
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
If your tendon tears away from the bone, your podiatrist discusses your options for surgery. They use minimally invasive techniques to reattach the tendon and repair any tears in the tissue.
The foot and ankle specialists can also provide resources you can use to prevent additional tendonitis complications. They recommend warm-up exercises you can do before sports and stretches you can do at home to keep the tendons in your foot and ankle flexible and healthy.
Call Ledesma Foot and Ankle today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for tendonitis symptoms or book a consultation online.