In athletes if there is pain on the outside of the ankle joint and there's no sign of trauma, then the most likely reason is what is called peroneal tendonitis. The peroneal muscle group are on the lateral side of the fibula bone and there tendons go around the outside of the ankle joint to then move to the lateral side and the bottom of the feet. The major purpose of these muscles will be to control and support the feet.

If a tendonitis occurs in the tendons of those peroneal muscles in athletes, then the reason is most likely overuse. This is carrying out too much too soon and the tendons aren't provided a chance to adjust to the increasing loads which are placed on them from that too rapid increase in the distances and speeds being run. It is vital that after harder long runs that the body will be given enough rest ahead of the next load are applied. If a load is applied too quickly ahead of the tendons to have had time to recuperate, then there is an increased chance to have an overuse injury.

The pain sensation of peroneal tendonitis generally only starts of being a minor ache, either just above or below the ankle joint bone on the lateral side of the ankle. At the start there is no swelling, however that will tend to come about later since the symptoms increases when the issue is not sorted out.

To cope with peroneal tendonitis, the runner must decrease the running to bearable amounts to allow the tendons to recover. Podiatry practitioners regularly use a lateral wedge to deal with peroneal tendonitis temporarily as this lessens the activity with the peroneal muscles, so there will be reduced force on the peroneal tendons. The wedge is placed under the rearfoot in the athletic shoes. After the symptoms in the tendons begins to get better, then a progressive and slow increase is necessary in the kilometers run for you to permit the tendon to adapt to these stresses will be required. A strengthening plan is usually beneficial.