Front of ankle / tendon pain

[dan_2932]

Hi,

Hopefully someone can help with a diagnosis and some advice on how to recover from a current injury.

Essentially, I have pain in the area where my feet meet my lower legs - its currently affecting both feet, but my right more so than my left. It feels like the tendons are a bit worn out and the pain occurs when I dorsiflex (I think thats the right term - ie when I bring my feet up towards my shins). I also feel some pain slightly higher up (i.e. the very bottom of my shins) plus the top of my feet, although the worst pain is in the front ankle area.

The pain is worst when I go running, but also occurs if I walk for more than 5-10 mins and when I'm driving.

My theory is that its a kind of repetitive strain injury caused from a lot of driving that i do as part of my job - i.e. my right foot is regularly 'dorsi-flexed' over the accelerator.

Anyone got any ideas what this could be? I'm thinking potentially extensor digitorum longus / tibialis anterior / metatarsals.

Also, is there anything I can do to ease the pain? Complete rest is difficult as I need to drive for work.

Thanks in advance!

[Heidi]

Hi

I think you are right, it is probably a lot to do with holding your foot in that dorsiflexed position for long periods. This eventually shortens the muscle.

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/lowerleg/inflamtibtensheath.htm

When you then run, the muscle doesn't have the endurance strength or flexibility to perform correctly.

Rest from running for now and start a regular stretching program of all of the muscles of the lower leg. You can find these here:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/stretching/allstretches.php

Hold each stretch for 30 seconds and repeat twice, 3-5 times a day. Massage to these muscles would also be beneficial.

Gait analysis is also worth it if you haven't had this done before, or if not for a long time, as things change.