Bracing and Strengthening for Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction

Participants will wear a brace that includes ankle stirrup support and medial longitudinal arch support. The brace will be worn during weight-bearing tasks throughout the 12-week study.

"Participants performed strengthening exercises progressively longer each time for up to 3 sets of 30 repetitions twice daily by the third visit. Exercises included bilateral heel raises, foot adduction/rear foot inversion with thera-tubing, and unilateral heel raises. Participants increased resistance by using thera-bands with higher levels of resistance over the 12 week period. The amount of resistance was progressed according to patient tolerance at each visit. Strengthening exercises were preceded by the control stretching exercises which constituted a warm up."

Subjects were provided with written descriptions and pictures demonstrating 2 range-of-motion exercises which included a wall calf stretch, and a supine ankle active range-of-motion exercise. Subjects were instructed to perform 3 sets of the stretching exercises, 2 times a day, similar to the intervention group. Each stretching exercise was performed twice and held for 30 seconds.