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What is peroneal tendonitis?
Peroneal tendonitis is a condition that occurs due to acute or chronic overloading of the peroneal tendons. Peroneal tendonitis results when a load is applied to the tendon that is greater than what it can sustain. As a result, the peroneal tendon becomes injured and inflamed. The suffix 'itis' always refers to a condition that is inflamed; ie bronchitis, arthritis, etc. Therefore, tendonitis is simply an injury resulting in inflammation in and around a tendon.
Tendons are notoriously slow to heal, and the peroneals are no exception. The reason for this is simply that the blood supply to the tendon is small and extremely fragile. As a result, tendons are poorly supplied with blood and are unable to respond well in the case of an injury. When a tendon is injured, there's an acute demand for more blood flow. This demand is called inflammation. Inflammation is the body's tool that is used to bring additional oxygen and healing cells into a specific area.
Why does tendonitis hurt?
While inflamed, the tendon is actively working to repair itself. There's an acute influx of blood, oxygen and cells that results in swelling. The arrival of all these cells is a new and unusual activity in and around the tendon causing pain. Pain is simply natures way of saying 'I'm not ready to carry this load. Please give me a rest'. Although pain is not desirable, pain is our best guide to the nature and degree of injury and will help guide choices used in healing the injury.
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