Overuse injuries on the outside of the foot and ankle are not very common. They are much more common on the inside of the ankle. When there is a slowly developing pain on the outside of the ankle from those who play a lot of sport, one reason for it could be peroneal tendonitis. This starts of as an ache either just below or just above the lateral malleolus (or lump on bone on the outside of the ankle joint. Initially peroneal tendonitis is not usually bad enough to stop training, but can progress to the stage where it does. The most common cause of peroneal tendonitis is a foot type that is easy to roll outwards. Because of this the peroneal muscles have to work a lot harder. If that extra work is combined with high levels of activity, then there is a risk of peroneal tendonitis developing. Usually the treatment for peroneal tendonitis is modification and restriction of activity levels combined with the use of a foot orthotic or padding to tip the foot inwards, so the peroneals do not have to work so hard.
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