What is PTTD? Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD) happens when the tendon supporting your foot’s arch becomes damaged or overworked. This leads to a painful collapse of the arch, often causing flat feet and discomfort.
How PTTD Impacts Your Life
PTTD can make daily activities tough. Here’s how it might affect you:
Pain When Walking: Simple tasks like walking or standing can cause sharp pain in your foot and ankle, making everyday movements harder.
Swelling & Tenderness: You may experience swelling on the inside of your ankle, making it uncomfortable to wear shoes or stand for long periods.
Loss of Mobility: As the condition worsens, your foot may feel less stable, leading to knee, hip, or back pain as your body compensates.
Reduced Activity: Many people find they can't exercise, run, or even enjoy outings with family, affecting both physical and emotional well-being.
How Custom Orthotics Help
Custom Orthotics:
✅ Support Your Arch: Orthotics provide support to prevent further arch collapse.
✅ Reduce Pain: By aligning the foot properly, they ease strain on the tendon and reduce pain in the foot, ankle, and beyond.
✅ Improve Mobility: With better alignment, walking and moving become easier and less painful.
✅ Prevent Worsening: Orthotics can stop PTTD from progressing, reducing the likelihood of surgery.
Exercise Prescription
In addition to orthotics, specific exercises can strengthen your muscles and improve foot stability. A podiatrist can guide you through targeted exercises to stretch and strengthen the posterior tibial tendon, helping to restore function and prevent further injury.
Why should you consider a podiatrist?
With over 20 years of experience as an MSK Podiatrist, I specialise in creating custom orthotics to treat foot and ankle pain, including PTTD. My MSc in Sports Medicine and HCPC registration ensure you receive expert care tailored to your specific needs.
Ready to relieve your pain and stay active? Book an appointment now to learn more about how custom orthotics can help you live a pain-free life. 👣🌟