Foot tendon inflammation

A tendon inflammation in the foot indicates irritation at the transition between muscle and bone, also called the tendon. A tendon becomes mainly irritated with too great an amount of movement (overuse) or too little movement (underloading). With prolonged overuse or underloading of the foot, small tears can occur in a tendon.

One of the most common tendon inflammations in the foot is heel spur (plantar fasciitis). Here, the fascial band under the sole of the foot, the connection between the heel bone and the toes, is irritated. Research has shown that ten percent of adults experience heel spur at least once in their lives.

What causes a tendon inflammation in the foot?

A tendon inflammation in the foot is mainly caused by overuse. Think of sports such as running, ballet, gymnastics and football. Other risk factors include being overweight, poor footwear, but also (congenital) malpositions in the foot, ankle or knee increase the chance of this injury.

In addition to overuse, long-term underloading of the foot is also an absolute risk factor. This reduces the load capacity of the muscles and tendons in the foot and, without a proper build-up of load, overuse is lurking.

What are the symptoms of a tendon inflammation in the foot?

Very common and absolutely characteristic is morning pain or start-up pain after sitting for a long time. The foot then feels stiff and painful. Once you start moving, this pain often subsides, only to return after exertion.

At a later stage, the heel pain becomes more persistent; the pain is then also present without exertion. It may then be difficult to bear weight on the foot and it may feel burning.

How is the diagnosis of a tendon inflammation in the foot made?

A tendon inflammation in the foot is generally easy to recognise. Examination by the GP or physiotherapist will suffice. Additional tests can be carried out for the possible cause of the complaints.

An X-ray provides more clarity about the heel bone. It is possible that there is calcium on the heel bone. This calcium looks like a 'hook' on the X-ray and can lead to more irritation of the fascial band in the sole of the foot. It should be noted that this calcification does not always cause (pain) complaints.

When making the diagnosis, other conditions that can cause foot pain must be taken into account.

How is a tendon inflammation in the foot treated?

As with all other forms of tendon inflammation, it is advisable to take rest and to cool the painful area. A physiotherapist can guide you in building up the load capacity. This may include specific exercise therapy to make the muscles around the foot stronger and more stable. Shockwave therapy is a widely used physiotherapeutic treatment method to reduce tendon complaints in the foot.

For heel spur complaints, a special sock and night splint have been developed. These keep the foot in a right-angled (hooked) position. This stretches the calf muscles, the Achilles tendon and the fascial band under the foot throughout the night.

When such measures do not yield sufficient results, the GP can refer you to a specialist in the hospital. Common treatment options in that case are an injection or an operation.