Sinus Tarsi Treatment

When you are suffering from sinus tarsi syndrome, the canal between the lower part of your ankle joint and heel has sustained some sort of damage. Rolling your ankle is by far one of the most common causes of this damage, but it may also involve a combination of poor conditioning and overuse of the foot as well as medical conditions like osteoarthritis. Regardless of the actual cause of the syndrome, the canal and surrounding tissue often becomes inflamed, prompting pain and tenderness near the ankle during weight-bearing activities. However, treatment is available to bring relief from this uncomfortable condition.

Self-Care

• For most people suffering from sinus tarsi syndrome, self-care measures are all you really need to bring about relief. To start treatment, try to lessen any inflammation of the sinus tarsi. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen or naproxen, work well in this situation, but you should also consider periodically icing the area, especially at the onset of pain. Both treatments lessen inflammation (either chemically or manually) and help to ease any of the associated pain. Apply ice for periods of no more than 15 minutes at a time, as longer periods can actually further injure the area.

  After you have reduced inflammation and pain, immobilize the foot. This can be done by simply wrapping an elastic bandage around the ankle and arch of the foot or using a device called an ankle sleeve. Either method should restrict movement and help to prevent further irritation and damage to the sinus tarsi.

  Since you need to support the area for it to properly heal, invest in a pair of shoes with a good arch and some shock resistance. This ensures that proper foot mechanics are used while walking or even running. Ill-fitting or poorly constructed shoes can exacerbate the condition. Get rid of any old or incorrect footwear.

Professional

• While self-care can go a long way to treating sinus tarsi syndrome, contact a medical professional to make certain you are caring properly for the condition. Some cases of sinus tarsi syndrome need a course of corticosteroids, either orally or intravenously (injections), to treat the condition. And much like NSAIDs, this prescription medication lessens the inflammation within this area of the foot and relieves pain.

  For others, electrotherapy is needed. With this form of treatment, ultrasounds are targeted into the sinus tarsi to reduce inflammation and aid in healing. This is often followed with some form of physical therapy, where a series of exercises are established to not only strengthen the foot, but also teach proper foot mechanics as well as make any modification to the placement of the foot during activities.

Surgical

• Though rare, some cases of sinus tarsi syndrome necessitate a surgical procedure. In this form of treatment, the damage sustained within this region of the foot is manually mended, with either arthroscopy or an actual incision.