Posterior tibial tendinopathy treatment on the Gold Coast.
Posterior tibial tendinopathy is the leading cause of adult-onset flat foot — pain on the inside of the ankle, gradual collapse of the arch, and difficulty rising onto your tip-toes. Treatable when caught early; harder once the tendon has failed completely.
What posterior tibial tendinopathy is and why it matters.
The posterior tibial tendon runs from the calf muscle, behind the medial ankle bone, and attaches into the inside of the midfoot. Its job is to hold up the arch and to lift the heel off the ground when you walk. When it weakens — through age, overuse, hormonal changes, or just bad biomechanical luck — the arch starts to collapse and the foot rolls inward more than it should.
The condition progresses in four stages. Stage 1: tendon irritation, foot still looks normal. Stage 2: tendon dysfunction, arch starts to flatten, can be reversed with proper treatment. Stage 3: fixed flat foot, requires more intensive management. Stage 4: arthritis throughout the foot, surgical territory.
The key is catching it at Stage 1 or 2. We see a lot of patients at Stage 2 who’ve been told their flat foot is just “getting worse with age”. It isn’t — it’s a treatable tendon problem.
Six treatment components for post-tib tendinopathy.
Stage 1 and 2 PTTD respond well to conservative treatment. Treatment specifics depend on the stage.
Three steps from first visit to outcome.
