Peroneal tendonitis is one of the most frequent foot’s injuries which often goes unnoticed in a first medical evaluation.
Peroneal Tendonitis is defined as the inflammatory process triggered by the micro-injury in the tendons of the posterolateral muscles of the leg (peroneous brevis and longus). These injuries are triggered by the overuse of tendon and commonly seen in athletes. [01]
It’s a relatively frequent problem in the general population, but is usually more frequently observed in runners and older adults.
Usually, the patient with this foot injury will develop the classical inflammatory symptoms in the lateral side of the foot, which includes: pain (mostly associated with movement), edema (swelling), redness and heat (increased blood flow).
Etiologic speaking, the process that leads to the development of a Peroneal Tendonitis is multifactorial.
However, this type of injury is mostly associated with one observed frequent traumatic cause: Ankle sprains.
The repeated sprains often have greater severity than the initial injury and can cause substantial pain and physical restriction.
Therefore, it is possible to observe that Peroneal Tendonitis is not a simple injury and, in order to improve treatment options, is necessary to optimize the effectiveness of strategies to prevent these injuries.
How to Pick the Correct Peroneal Tendonitis Brace
The choice of the ideal ankle brace should meet the needs of each individual and also the anatomy of the feet.
In sports equipment stores, it is possible to find various types of ankle brace.
The preventive model, for example, is designed to protect the joints without interfering in comfort. Having a preventive function, this brace is designed to exert a necessary compression for the protection of the joint.
It is very useful for those who are returning to practice a sport after recovering from an injury.
The second type mostly frequented found is the semi-rigid ankle brace.
Having a stabilizing function, this brace supports and promotes the correct movement of the joint.
It is often accompanied by elastic bands that allow the patient to adjust the ankle-length according to the desired level of protection.
Scientific evidence supports the mechanical superiority of this type of brace for restriction of ankle inversion and eversion movements compared to other common braces.
Size guide (according to literature)
Place a flexible meter around the ankle, more precisely 5 cm above the malleolus. After measuring the circumference, you are able to hit the ankle size.
- Size 1: from 20 to 22 cm
- Size 2: from 22 to 23.5 cm
- Size 3: from 23.5 to 25 cm
- Size 4: from 25 to 26.5 cm.
Top 7 Best Peroneal Tendonitis Brace
Here are the top 7 braces that can help you in peroneal tendonitis.
7. BioSkin Trilok Ankle Brace
Best fits for: Active ankle stability in cases of an ankle sprain, ankle tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis.
Pros: adjustable, made from the lycra & polyester material (hypoallergenic), helps to compress, stabilize and reduce swelling of an ankle after injury. It helps to prevent inversion and eversion injuries. Available in 5 different sizes.
Cons: Bit complicated to put on & costlier.
Shop BioSkin Trilok Ankle Brace on Amazon
6. gonicc Professional Foot Sleeve
Best fits for: Prevention of re-injury, ankle compression, avoiding injuries while playing volleyball, and ligament stabilization.
Pros: Helps to stabilize and compress ankle areas that reduce that chance of re-injury. Provide supports to ankle with compression wrap which is a useful feature for volleyball players. Enhance circulation for early recovery. It does not add bulk so players can wear socks over it. Breathable gear, available in 5 different sizes.
Cons: Straps are unattached to sleeves and need to wear over the sleeves.
Shop gonicc Professional Foot Sleeve on Amazon
5. Bracoo Ankle Support
Material: Neoprene
Best fits for: Treatment/recovery phase, you already have the injury and want to avoid excessive movement; Prevention of new injuries.
Pros: adjustable, latex-free (hypoallergenic), fits in a shoe (according to reviews by some users).
Cons: only two sizes
Shop Bracoo ankle support on Amazon
4. ASO Ankle Stabilizer
Material: Cotton/Nylon.
Best fits for: Treatment/recovery phase, you already have the injury and want to avoid excessive movement; Prevention of new injuries.
Pros: 8 different types of sizes with a size guide chart.
Cons: Not returnable if doesn’t fit.
Shop Bracoo ankle support on Amazon
3. Liomor Ankle Support
Material: Nylon and Lycra.
Best fits for: Prevention purpose (minimize risk injuries).
Pros: Adjustable. Keep feet dry & cool.
Cons: Only two sizes. According to user reviews, movements can be impaired by this brace.
Although some resistance is needed, the joint must be able to perform the movements almost freely in order to be functional for daily-life activities.
Shop Limor ankle support on Amazon
2. Sleeve Stars Brace
Material: Lycra.
Best fits for: Prevention (minimize risk injuries).
Pros: Adjustable, lightweight.
Cons: Lack of specificity. One size.
Shop Sleeve stars ankle brace on Amazon
1. Bauerfeind MalleoTrain Ankle Support
Material: Knit.
Best fits for: Prevention (minimize risk injuries).
Pros: Lightweight. Specify for lateral strains and peroneal tendonitis. 6 sizes with the guide.
Cons: Expensive for a preventive brace.
Shop Sleeve stars ankle brace on Amazon
Types of Ankle Braces
Ankle braces are primarily divided into three different groups – Lace-up, post-injury and rigid braces. Ankle braces can also be sorted as per their prices. They can either be high-end ankle braces or low-end braces.
The low-end ankle support can be purchased from the sporting goods shop while high-end ankle braces are mostly available in the medical stores or can also be ordered from Amazon.
In case of severe ankle injuries, a healthcare provider may ask for custom-built ankle support.
Lace-up Ankle Braces
As the name suggests lace-up ankle brace utilizes laces to tighten the brace. They are often made from the nylon-vinyl material and has a semi-rigid structure. The lace-up brace can be to tightened or loosened as per the user’s comfort level.
The lace-up ankle brace is more flexible due to its semi-rigid structure. They are often used as a prophylactic measure to avoid ankle injuries.
Post-injury Ankle Braces
These braces are filled with air or gel and have plastic panels on either side of the leg to provide ankle support. Usually, they are used to prevent inversion, eversion and reduce the swelling after an ankle injury.
To allow flexion movements of ankle joint, these ankle braces are often equipped with a hinge.
Rigid Ankle Braces
These braces provide a high level of protection to the ankle and often used by the basketball and volleyball players to avoid ankle injuries.
Rigid ankle braces can either lace-up or stirrup types. The stirrup rigid brace helps ankle in dorsiflexion or plantarflexion and protect ankle joint from eversion or inversion injury.
Why Wear a Peroneal Tendonitis Brace?
As mentioned above, lateral ankle sprains are one of the most common acute musculoskeletal injuries in the general population.
And is also, the most described traumatic etiology associated with Peroneal Tendonitis, with 38 to 40% of ankle sprains leading to peroneus brevis tendon tears.
Most cases of ankle sprains occur because of foot inversion as a result of the loss of balance, which may cause stretching or rupture of the tendons and ligaments of the joint.
This type of excessive ankle rotation is common during sports, and one of the leading causes of injuries in many different modalities.
The severity of the ankle sprain varies according to the involvement of the structures present in the affected region and can be divided into three types:
Grade I – Stretching of the ligaments, with the formation of edema and presence of pain.
Grade II – Partially ruptured ligaments and joint instability, with the presence of edema and rigidity in movement. Pain of moderate intensity.
Grade III – Total rupture of the ligaments and much instability in the foot, with great difficulty to keep standing and intense pain.
Common causes of Peroneal Tendonitis
People who are active in sports are prone to suffer from peroneal tendonitis.
The most common causes of peroneal tendonitis include –
- Overuse of ankle joint
- A sudden increase in weight-bearing activities like jumping, running etc.
- Faulty footwear
- Lower limb muscles problems
- Higher foot arches
We hope this guide will help you chose the right brace for peroneal tendonitis.
But always remember that you should avoid self-diagnostic and value a professional opinion! It is important to always consult your orthopedist or physiotherapist before deciding the best treatment for you.
FAQs about Peroneal Tendonitis
Do ankle braces help with peroneal tendonitis?
Ankle brace causes compression which helps to reduce inflammation & pain. It supports the ankle and prevents ankle injuries and protect peroneal tendon.
Is walking good for peroneal tendonitis?
Peroneal tendonitis often caused by overuse of the tendon. So, rest plays a crucial role in the treatment of ankle tendonitis. Walking may increase the pain and inflammation caused by peroneal tendonitis.
What is the fastest way to heal tendonitis in the ankle?
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References:
[01] American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society®. Overview of peroneal tendonitis. Ref: legacy.aofas.org
[02] Thijs K, Huisstede B, Goedhart E, et al The preventive effect of a soccer-specific ankle brace on acute lateral ankle sprains in girls amateur soccer players: study protocol of a cluster-randomised controlled trial Injury Prevention Published Online First: 27 July 2017. doi: 10.1136/injuryprev-2017-042465
[03] Doherty C, Bleakley C, Delahunt E, et al Treatment and prevention of acute and recurrent ankle sprain: an overview of systematic reviews with meta-analysis Br J Sports Med 2017;51:113-125. doi: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/2/113.info
[04] Van Dijk PAD, Lubberts B, Verheul C, DiGiovanni CW, Kerkhoffs GMMJ. Rehabilitation after surgical treatment of peroneal tendon tears and ruptures. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy. 2016;24:1165-1174. doi: 10.1007/s00167-015-3944-6
[05] Dombek MF, Lamm BM, Saltrick K, Mendicino RW, Catanzariti AR. Peroneal tendon tears: a retrospective review. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2003; 42(5):250-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14566716
[06] Megan Y Shaw, MS, ATC, Phillip A Gribble, PhD, ATC, and Jamie L Frye, PhD, ATC. Ankle Bracing, Fatigue, and Time to Stabilization in Collegiate Volleyball Athletes. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-43.2.164