In athletes should there be discomfort on the outside of the ankle joint and there's no history of trauma, then the more than likely issue is what is referred to as peroneal tendonitis. The peroneal muscles are on the lateral side of the leg and the tendons move around the outside of the ankle joint to then move to the outside and the bottom of the feet. The main function of these muscles will be to control and support the arch.

If a tendonitis occurs in the tendons of those peroneal muscles in runners, then the reason is most probably overuse. This is carrying out too much too soon and the tendons aren't provided the opportunity to adjust to the increasing loads that are put on them coming from that too quick increase in the kilometers and speeds being run. It is essential that following harder longer runs that the body will be given ample rest ahead of the next stress is applied. If a stress is put on too quickly ahead of the tendons to have had time to recuperate, then there is an elevated possibility for an overuse injury.

The pain sensation of peroneal tendonitis generally only starts of as a modest ache, either just below or above the ankle bone on the outside of the ankle. To begin with there is no puffiness, however that will often develop later as the pain increases when the issue is not taken care of.

To cope with peroneal tendonitis, the athlete needs to scale back the running to bearable amounts to enable the peroneal tendons to recover. Podiatry practitioners frequently use a lateral wedge for treatment of peroneal tendonitis in the short term as this decreases the activity of the peroneal muscles, so there can be reduced force on the peroneal tendons. This is placed under the heel in the athletic shoes. Right after the symptoms in the peroneal tendon begins to calm down, then a gradual and slow increase is necessary in the distances run to permit the tendon to adjust to these loads are needed. A strengthening plan is usually very helpful.