Tibialis Posterior Dysfunction

Medial foot pain and collapsed arch

Fallen arches can have a range of contributing factors, one of which is tibialis posterior dysfunction. This muscle runs from the lower leg deep to the calf muscle, and attaches to the arch of the foot. Hence, it is involved in dynamically controlling the height and position of the medial foot. In some instances, the muscle becomes relatively inactive and the calf and other muscles dominate foot and ankle control.

Careful assessment of gait and strength is necessary to determine if dysfunction of this muscle is present. If so, the podiatrist then must determine if passive arch support via and orthotic is necessary, or if rehabilitation strategies can first be used.