Sinus Tarsi Syndrome

[physiofixme]

The sinus tarsi is a canal running from an opening anterior and inferior to the lateral malleolus to a point just behind the medial malleolus. It forms part of the subtalar joint and contains some blood vessels, fat, subtalar ligaments.

Injury to it is either chronic overuse due to poor biomechanics (over pronation etc) or as the result of an acute ankle sprain.

Pain usually anterior to the lateral malleolus. It is often worse in the morning and may diminish with exercise. Can also have ankle and foot stiffness and occasionaly of weakness.

Treatment is usually rest, ice etc but in particular mobilisation of the subtalar joint. Corticosteriod injection can help but the biomechanics need to be addressed to prevent recurrance.

Any help??

Sounds like you've been doing your research. Have you considered a peroneal tendinopathy or a stress fracture of your talus??

[dibblego]

Thanks for the tips physiofixme.

I am quite certain that I have subtalar impingement anterior, behind and perhaps even posterior to the lateral malleolus. Probably in the sinus tarsi region too. I also have passive inversion and I am jammed in that slightly inverted position even when weight bearing. I don't believe that my subtalar joint moves at all.

This doesn't seem fully consistent with what you describe yet I have found one link which uses STS and lateral subtalar impingement interchangeably.

Is it possible that during an inversion sprain tissue has become trapped in the subtalar joint? Can this tissue impingement be described as Sinus Tarsi Syndrome?
Additional Comment I forgot:
On second read, that link seems to make a distinction. Therefore I have lateral subtalar impingement and not sinus tarsi syndrome. I believe I have localised it well enough for my surgeon. 30 days to go for my fifth and hopefully last time.

Any other tips are appreciated!

[dibblego]

Alas, I find another link which does use the term interchangeably!

I should point out that the reason I ask is because I want to know if literature on Sinus Tarsi Syndrome is applicable or not. I have lateral subtalar impingement. Is STS as described in the literate the same thing? How annoying -- not even my text books are clear on this.