[Matthew Morriss]

I’ve been trying to recover, with the help of a PT, from posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (tendonitis). I had hoped that by now (10 months of work) to be doing much better but the volume of training in even the basic mountaineering training group has flared up a bit of discomfort in my ankle – still low on the pain scale 1-1.5 / 10.

Scott, in the group call today, scared me a bit about the idea of injuries becoming lingering and nagging for years.. Not looking forward to that outcome, but I’d like to still be active and not just riding my bike. Any ideas for other exercises?

Scott mentioned potentially an elliptical machine; I’d even be up for aqua jogging… Just something to stay active to get that final 10% of my injury healed. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.

Topic

[Thomas Summer, MD]

Thomas Summer, MD on June 16, 2022 at 3:27 am #68281

Hi Matthew!

Elliptical is good, aqua jogging is good, Elliptigo is good, and everything, where you don’t have pain, is good to keep you fit.
BUT that will probably not solve the problem. Have you ever tried insoles? Different shoes? Adjustments to your shoes? Compression socks? Taping? My approach to this would be to find a way that allows you to do what you want to do. You’ll have to be creative, but most likely there is a way.

Maybe we can figure out a way together?

lg!
Thomas

[Matthew Morriss]

Matthew Morriss on June 16, 2022 at 9:24 pm #68297

On the advice of my PT, I’ve got higher arched insoles in all my shoes now, and am using shoes with 4-5 mm of drop vs zero drop shoes.

Do you recommend compressions socks? What style of taping?

I’b happy to discuss this in more detail. Any ideas i’m open to.

[Thomas Summer, MD]

Thomas Summer, MD on June 17, 2022 at 9:14 am #68311

I would have also recommended higher arched insoles. Try compression socks. You can also tape your arch to get some tension off the tendon. And you can combine that with kinesio tape. Streching of the calves (flexed and straight knee) and hamstrings and plantar fascia. Foot mobility and strength. Tibialis anterior training…

[Matthew Morriss]

Matthew Morriss on June 17, 2022 at 11:11 am #68315

Thanks @Thomas!

Is this the type of taping you had in mind?

I’ll definitely be keeping up up the ankle strengthening exercises with therabands, calf stretching and heel raises I’ve been working on.

[Thomas Summer, MD]

Thomas Summer, MD on June 19, 2022 at 7:46 am #68360

I would use the K-Tape up to the knee. And also combine it with normal tape on the foot, to limit pronation a bit. Ask your PT for that

[Matthew Morriss]

Matthew Morriss on June 20, 2022 at 9:50 am #68381

Thomas, just in case running/hiking continue to cause pain in my ankle and I need to switch activities for the benefit of getting to full recovery of my ankle are elliptical and aqua jogging or even cycling good options to continue to try to build my aerobic base fitness while trying to get my ankle to calm down?

[Thomas Summer, MD]

Thomas Summer, MD on June 24, 2022 at 11:06 pm #68520

Matthew,

it’s always a good idea to switch between activities when recovering from an overuse injury. Different load on the body and especially less load on your injury. Cycling, aqua jogging, and elliptical are good options for that purpose.