Have you stopped wearing your favorite pair of heels because it’s painful every time you walk? Or do your dress shoes feel uncomfortable and you just want to take them off?
Perhaps you are suffering from a condition called Haglund’s deformity!
Haglund’s deformity occurs when a bony prominence forms at the back of the heel. While you can have this deformity without experiencing painful symptoms, the continuous rubbing against your footwear can irritate the surrounding tissue and result to discomfort and pain.
What Causes Haglund’s Deformity
Pump-style shoes are considered to be the main culprit for this bony enlargement, hence its other name: the pump bump. Similarly, wearing shoes that have an improper fit or rigid back can also lead to its development.
Inherited foot structures and tendencies also increase your risk of developing Haglund’s deformity. This includes a high-arched foot, a tight Achilles tendon, and a tendency to walk on the outer edge of your heel.
Symptoms of Haglund’s Deformity
The most obvious symptom of Haglund’s deformity is the presence of a bump on your heel. Other symptoms include pain, swelling, redness, and formation of blisters or calluses on the back of the heel.
How to Treat Haglund’s Deformity
Haglund’s deformity treatment is aimed at reducing pressure, pain, and inflammation; they do not address or shrink the bony protrusion.
Below are a few things you need to know when dealing with Haglund’s deformity.
The Do’s
- DO wear backless or soft-backed shoes to minimize painful pressure and friction.
- DO wear orthotic devices consistently to control the motion of your foot.
- DO try placing a heel pad in your shoe to reduce the strain on the back of your heel.
- DO perform stretching exercises to help relieve tension from tight Achilles tendon.
- DO ice your heel and take NSAIDs to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation.
The Don’ts
- DON’T wear shoes with rigid backs like pumps, ice skates, men’s dress shoes, and work boots.
- DON’T run on hard surfaces or uphill for extended periods of time.
- DON’T delay in seeking treatment for Haglund’s deformity. If left untreated, a more painful bursitis may develop.
Stretching Exercises for Haglund’s Deformity
Haglund’s deformity exercises focus on relieving stress on the Achilles tendon. This tendon is most affected by the bony enlargement in Haglund’s cases. By stretching your Achilles tendon, you can reduce how tightly it is pressed against the bump and as a result, reduce pain.
Here are three exercises that may help.
Heel Raises
- Stand with feet flat on the floor and both hands on a wall or holding the back of a chair for support.
- Slowly raise the heels so that the balls of the feet support your weight. Hold for a few seconds, then lower the heels.
- Hold for 5–10 seconds, and then slowly lower the heels to the ground.
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Calf Stretches
- Stand facing a wall.
- Lean forward and place the hands on the wall around shoulder height.
- Step forward with one foot.
- With both heels on the ground and a straight back, push your hips toward the wall until you feel a stretch in the back calf.
- Hold for 30 seconds, then relax for 30 seconds.
- Repeat
Towel Stretches
- Sit on the floor with both legs out in front.
- Loop a towel around one foot, holding both ends.
- Gently pull on the towel, pulling the ball of the foot toward the body. There should be a gentle stretch in the calf muscle.
- Hold for 30 seconds and relax for 30 seconds.
- Repeat three times.
If your pain persists despite all home remedies or if your bump continues to enlarge, it’s time to see a podiatrist.
Ankle and foot injuries affect a large number of people. They are potentially harmful and can be caused by a variety of factors. If you are having pain or believe you have been injured or have a foot deformity, contact our podiatrist at DeNiel Foot & Ankle Center. Our foot and ankle specialist will analyze your problem and provide you with the best foot and ankle care possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you treat Haglund’s deformity?
Treatment for Haglund’s deformity includes conservative measures such as ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and wearing supportive shoes with a soft heel. In severe cases, physical therapy or surgery may be required to remove the bony bump.
Will Haglund’s deformity go away?
Haglund’s deformity typically does not go away on its own. While symptoms can be managed with treatment, the bony bump often persists unless surgically removed.
What is the difference between Achilles tendonitis and Haglund’s deformity?
Achilles tendonitis is inflammation of the Achilles tendon, often causing pain and swelling. Haglund’s deformity is a bony growth on the heel that can irritate the tendon, but the two conditions are distinct. Haglund’s deformity can lead to Achilles tendonitis.
Where does Haglund’s deformity come from?
Haglund’s deformity is often caused by repetitive pressure or friction on the back of the heel, commonly from ill-fitting shoes. It can also be influenced by genetics or abnormal foot mechanics.
