Ankle

Posterior Tibialis Tendonitis Treatment That Treats the Whole Chain, Not Just the Ankle

You feel the deep ache along your inner ankle. The arch is flattening. Stairs, walks, even standing too long brings that burning back. You’ve rested, stretched, maybe tried insoles. It keeps coming back.

We don’t just treat your ankle.

We assess your hips, calves, spine, and gait to find the real source of overload on the tendon.

Advanced shockwave, EMTT, and targeted rehab.

Dual shockwave (radial + focal) and electromagnetic therapy stimulate tendon healing, paired with exercises that rebuild strength.

Progressive aftercare so it doesn’t come back.

We build your strength and correct your mechanics over months, not just patch the pain for weeks.

60-minute one-on-one assessment + treatment plan.

No pressure, no contracts.

Is This You?

If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.

Deep ache or burning along the inner ankle and arch, especially after walking, running, or climbing stairs

Your arch seems to be flattening on one side, and you notice swelling near the inner ankle bone

Weekend runner or hiker who suddenly ramped up mileage and now can’t shake the foot pain

It gets better with rest, then flares up the moment you return to activity

You’ve tried orthotics, stretches, cortisone, maybe even laser therapy, and nothing has lasted. You want a non-surgical option before committing to anything drastic.

The Real Problem

Why Your Ankle Still Hurts After "Trying Everything"

Explore 4 slides on Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction

Most people have several of these happening at once. That’s why we assess the whole chain, from your hips and spine down to your ankle and arch, not just the painful spot.

OUR APPROACH

The Unpain 3-Part Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction Relief Program

INITIAL VISIT

Whole-Body Root-Cause Assessment

Full movement screen of your hips, calves, ankle, and gait pattern

Identify which combination of tightness, weakness, or alignment issues is overloading the tendon

Leave with a clear, written treatment plan and transparent pricing before committing

First 3 to 5 Weeks

Pain & Inflammation Modulation

Combined radial and focal shockwave therapy to promote tendon blood flow and cell repair

EMTT (electromagnetic transduction therapy) to boost tendon regeneration at the cellular level

Targeted soft-tissue massage to release calf and plantar fascia tension

Make walking and daily activities tolerable, fast.

6+ Weeks and Beyond

Strength & Progressive Aftercare

Progressive eccentric and concentric strengthening for the ankle, calves, and hips

Gait retraining and core stability work to prevent the chain from breaking down again

Gradual return-to-activity plan tailored to your sport or daily demands

What To Expect

What Results Can I Expect?

Every case is different, but research and our clinical experience consistently show:

Noticeable improvement within 2 to 4 weeks. Many patients begin feeling relief after 2 to 3 combined shockwave and EMTT sessions. Peak benefit typically emerges over 2 to 3 months of treatment and rehab.

Return to walking, stairs, and sport. In published case studies, the majority of patients with chronic tendon pain returned to sport-level activities after combined shockwave and exercise therapy.

A realistic path to avoiding surgery. Conservative treatment with shockwave, EMTT, and progressive rehab has been shown to produce meaningful pain and function improvements, often making surgery unnecessary for early-to-moderate cases.

Our promise: we will tell you honestly at the assessment if we don’t believe you’re a good candidate for this approach.

EVIDENCE

The Research Behind Our Approach

Shockwave therapy has been shown to improve tendon blood flow and stimulate cell repair, confirmed by multiple laboratory and animal studies.

In a case series of patients who had failed previous physiotherapy, 90% achieved clinically meaningful improvement in daily function after combined shockwave and exercise therapy.

A double-blind randomized trial found EMTT significantly improved physical function and reduced pain compared to placebo within 6 to 12 weeks of treatment.

Randomized trials show that combining orthotics with progressive strengthening exercises produces better pain and function outcomes than orthotics and stretching alone for this condition.

Follow-up studies show that shockwave therapy benefits can persist for 12 months or longer when combined with ongoing rehabilitation.

Outcomes are group averages from clinical trials; individual results vary.

See full references
  1. [1] Mancini F, et al. Effects of High-Energy Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Human Tendon Cells: An In Vitro Study. Appl. Sci. 2025. DOI:10.3390/appXXXXXX.
  2. [2] Ross MH, et al. Exercise for posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: a systematic review of RCTs and guidelines. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2018;4(1):e000430. DOI:10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000430.
  3. [3] Robinson D, Mitchkash M, et al. Nonsurgical approach in management of tibialis posterior tendinopathy with combined radial shockwave and foot core exercises: a case series. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2020;59(5):1058-1061. DOI:10.1053/j.jfas.2020.03.008.
  4. [4] Wang CJ, Huang HY, Pai CH. Shock wave-enhanced neovascularization at the tendon-bone junction: an experiment in dogs. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2002;41(1):16-22. DOI:10.1016/S1067-2516(02)80005-9.
  5. [5] Hollander K, Burgkart R, et al. EMTT for musculoskeletal disorders: a double-blind RCT. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2025. DOI:10.1177/10538127251400083.
  6. [6] Houck JR, Neville C, et al. RCT: Orthosis + stretching vs orthosis + stretching + strengthening in stage II PTTD. Foot Ankle Int. 2015;36(9):1006-1016. DOI:10.1177/1071100715579906.
  7. [7] Kulig K, Reischl SF, et al. Nonsurgical management of PTTD with orthoses and resistive exercise: a RCT. Phys Ther. 2009;89(1):26-37. DOI:10.2522/ptj.20070242.
  8. [8] Feeney KM, et al. The effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy for midportion Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review. Cureus. 2022;14(7):e26960. DOI:10.7759/cureus.26960.
  9. [9] Vetrano M, d’Alessandro F, et al. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy promotes cell proliferation and collagen synthesis of human tenocytes. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2011;19(12):2159-2168. DOI:10.1007/s00167-011-1534-9.

Posterior Tibial Tendon DysfunctionFAQ

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction.

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Does shockwave therapy work for posterior tibial tendon pain?

Research in tendon injuries shows shockwave therapy promotes blood vessel growth and cell repair in damaged tendons. A case series specifically for this condition found 90% of patients who had failed previous treatment achieved meaningful functional improvement with combined shockwave and exercise. We review the evidence and your specific case during your initial assessment.

Can tight calves or flat feet cause posterior tibialis tendonitis?

Yes. Tight calves force the foot to roll inward, placing extra strain on the posterior tibial tendon. Flat feet increase the tendon’s workload with every step. Both are well-documented risk factors, and addressing them is a key part of treatment. We map out which factors apply to you in your first visit.

How many sessions will I need?

Most treatment protocols involve 3 to 5 sessions of combined shockwave and EMTT over several weeks, followed by a progressive rehab program. Many patients feel initial improvement within 2 to 3 sessions. We tailor the number and frequency to how your tendon responds.

Why does my tendonitis keep coming back?

Tendons heal slowly, and if the factors that caused the overload are still present, pain returns. Tight calves, weak hips, poor footwear, or jumping back into activity too soon are common culprits. Lasting relief requires correcting these issues, not just calming the inflammation temporarily. We assess the full picture at your initial visit.

Is posterior tibialis tendonitis different from plantar fasciitis?

They share some overlap, but the pain locations differ. Posterior tibialis tendonitis produces aching along the inner ankle and sometimes a flattening arch. Plantar fasciitis typically causes sharp heel pain, especially with your first morning steps. Both can be present at the same time. We clarify the diagnosis in your assessment.

What if orthotics, stretches, and cortisone haven’t worked for me?

That’s actually the situation many of our patients start from. Orthotics and stretching help, but they don’t regenerate damaged tendon tissue or address all the contributing factors. Shockwave, EMTT, and comprehensive rehab target the tendon at a cellular level while correcting the mechanical issues. We’ll tell you honestly if we think this approach can help your specific case.

YOUR NEXT STEP

Ready to See What’s Actually Driving Your Ankle Pain?

Stop guessing, stop collecting random treatments, and get a plan that treats the system, not just the ankle.

Initial Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction Assessment — Edmonton

60-minute one-on-one session. Here’s what’s included:

1

Full-body movement and strength assessment (hips, calves, ankle, arch, gait)

2

Identify which pain drivers matter for your case

3

Review of history and imaging if available

4

Clear written plan with transparent pricing before you commit

No referral needed. No obligation to continue beyond the first visit.

No pressure, no contracts.

We will tell you honestly at the assessment if we don't believe you're a good candidate for this approach. If your condition needs something different, we'll refer you directly.

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