What is a peroneal tendon strain?
A strain is an injury in which muscle fibers or tendons are
stretched or torn. The peroneal muscles are on the outer
side of the lower leg and their tendons attach to the foot.
These muscles and tendons help move your foot to the
outside.
How does it occur?
During an injury when the foot and ankle are rolled inward,
a movement called inversion, the peroneal tendons may be
stretched or torn. They also may be injured when your foot
is forced upward toward your shin. Peroneal tendon strain
can result from running on sloped surfaces or running in
shoes with excessive wear on the outside of the heel.
What are the symptoms?
You have pain on the outer side of your lower leg and
ankle. You may hear a pop or a snap when the injury
occurs. You may have swelling around your ankle.
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider will examine your ankle and lower
leg. He or she will move your ankle and leg to test these
tendons. X-rays may be taken to see if there is a break in
your ankle or in one of the bones in your feet.
How is it treated?
Treatment may include:
- applying ice packs to your ankle for 20 to 30 minutes
every 3 to 4 hours for 2 or 3 days or until the pain goes
away
- elevating your ankle to help the swelling go away by
lying down and placing your foot and ankle on a pillow
- wrapping an elastic bandage around your ankle to help
keep the swelling down
- wearing a stirrup splint (called an Aircast or Gelcast)
or a lace-up ankle brace as prescribed by your health
care provider
- doing exercises to strengthen your peroneal muscles and
tendons and to strengthen your ankle joint.
While you are recovering from your injury, you will need to
change your sport or activity to one that will not make your
condition worse. For example, you may need to bicycle or
swim instead of run.
When can I return to my sport or activity?
The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or
activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too
soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to
permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury at a
different rate. Return to your sport or activity will be
determined by how soon your ankle recovers, not by how many
days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. In
general, the longer you have symptoms before you start
treatment, the longer it will take to get better.
You may safely return to your sport or activity when,
starting from the top of the list and progressing to the
end, each of the following is true:
- You have full range of motion in the injured leg compared
to the uninjured leg.
- You have full strength of the injured leg compared to the
uninjured leg.
- You can jog straight ahead without pain or limping.
- You can sprint straight ahead without pain or limping.
- You can do 45-degree cuts, first at half-speed, then at
full-speed.
- You can do 20-yard figures-of-eight, first at half-speed,
then at full-speed.
- You can do 90-degree cuts, first at half-speed, then at
full-speed.
- You can do 10-yard figures-of-eight, first at half-speed,
then at full-speed.
- You can jump on both legs without pain and you can jump
on the injured leg without pain.
How can I prevent a peroneal tendon strain?
- Keep your ankles and peroneal muscles strong.
- Wear high-top athletic shoes or a supportive ankle brace.
- Warm up properly before starting your sport or activity.
- When running, choose level surfaces and avoid rocks or
holes.
Written by Pierre Rouzier, M.D., for McKesson Health Solutions LLC.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.