Tibialis posterior tendon diseases

The tendon of the tibialis posterior muscle can become inflamed when strongly irritated or rupture or tear under sudden, severe stress. Pain in tendons usually occurs when the tendon is under stress. However, pain is only a symptom of other damage and not the disease itself.

The pain can be the result of traumatic damage, i.e. a rupture or a stretch when the tendon is bent, or it can also be caused by inflammation of the tendon or tendon sheath. Affected persons can first try to reduce the pain by taking a rest and painkillers. If the pain persists for a longer period of time, a doctor should be consulted.

The tendon of the posterior tibialis muscle runs through several joints and must withstand extreme stress. The irritation of the tendon occurs with every single step. Especially with increased strain, as in competitive athletes, this irritation can lead to an inflammation of the tendon.

The tendon sheaths can also become inflamed and stick together if the strain is too great. In both cases, affected persons have severe pain, which is intensified by the strain on the tendon, for example when running. The frequency of tendon inflammation increases with age, since the tendons can be affected by a degenerative (degenerative) change.

Inflammation of tendons or tendon sheaths can spread to surrounding structures. In most cases a conservative therapy is sufficient. The tendon is immobilized and restored to normal function with certain physiotherapeutic exercises.

During this time, the affected tendon should be spared. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are also used. If severe pain persists for a longer period, surgical removal of the affected tendon may be considered.

In this case, the tendon is removed piece by piece and the stump is sutured back together.A tendon is exposed to strong mechanical stress. Normally, tendons are built exactly for this purpose and can withstand great forces, but a sudden, strong load can cause the tendon to tear. With age, the elasticity of the tendons also decreases and the probability of rupture increases.

A torn tendon is very painful for the person affected and leads to a complete loss of function of the affected muscle. In some cases, conservative treatment is sufficient, while in the case of a complete severance, surgery is often necessary to reattach the tendon. Tibialis posterior syndrome is a progressive disease of the tendon of the posterior tibialis muscle.

This is always caused by a degenerative (degenerative) change in the tendon and occurs more frequently in older age. Women are three times more frequently affected than men. The increasing degeneration gradually leads to functional limitations.

Those affected find it increasingly difficult to move their foot inwards and to bend the sole of the foot more and more. Since the tendon of the posterior tibialis muscle also stabilizes the arch of the foot, the later course of the disease results in an outwardly inclined flat foot and the associated joint damage, since the walking movement can no longer be cushioned sufficiently. The first therapeutic approach is usually conservative.

Those affected should take care of their foot and receive physiotherapy. Shoe insoles are also recommended as a support. Painkilling and anti-inflammatory drugs can also be used.

For more severe courses of disease, surgical therapy may be considered. The inflamed or dead tissue is removed and the tendon is reconstructed with healthy tendons. In some patients, the bone must also be treated.