Haglund’s deformity: What it is and how you can treat it

Foot ache can be attributable to a lot of issues that you’ve heard of – like bone spurs or bunions. But you might have solely not too long ago heard of Haglund’s deformity, a small, bony ridge or bump that can kind on the again of the heel close to your Achilles tendon, inflicting discomfort and ache.

Haglund’s deformity isn’t as scary as it sounds. In most circumstances, it can be handled with well-fitting sneakers or bodily remedy. But in some circumstances, your physician might suggest surgical procedure to repair the issue.

Here, we’ll go over the causes of Haglund’s deformity and why it can occur, in addition to therapy choices so you can tackle your foot ache and get again to strolling usually.

Common causes and signs of Haglund’s deformity

Haglund’s deformity is quite common. But since it doesn’t all the time trigger extreme signs, many individuals don’t see a physician or get an official analysis.

The precise reason for Haglund’s deformity isn’t identified. It’s potential that genetics play a think about that your pure foot construction makes you extra prone to creating Haglund’s deformity. Genetic components that will improve the probabilities of creating it embrace:

• High arches in your ft, which can power your heel backward whereas strolling, placing pressure on the Achilles tendon
• A good Achilles tendon that can put pressure in your heel bone
• A bent to stroll on the outsides of your ft
• Abnormalities in the best way you stroll on account of situations like Parkinson’s illness or cerebral palsy
• A household historical past of Haglund’s deformity

Outside components can irritate your ft as effectively. Haglund’s deformity is generally known as “pump bump,” which means the inflexible backs of pump-style sneakers, like high heels, can irritate the heels, inflicting foot points.

It’s not simply women’s sneakers that can trigger an issue, both – it can be any sneakers with inflexible backs, like males’s costume sneakers, curler skates or ice skates. Overusing your heels with actions that require repetitive movement, like running, jogging or climbing stairs, can additionally result in Haglund’s deformity.

What Haglund’s deformity can look and really feel like

Haglund’s deformity nearly all the time develops on each ft, though it can simply have an effect on one. The most noticeable symptom of Haglund’s deformity is a bump in your heel that you can see and really feel by way of your pores and skin.

The bump doesn’t essentially imply you’ll develop different signs, however it makes it extra doubtless, as it might rub towards your sneakers and trigger additional issues, akin to:

• Calluses, bruises or blisters on or across the bump
• Heel sensitivity
• Pain whereas strolling
• Severe ache the place your Achilles tendon attaches to your heel
• Redness close to infected tissue

Haglund’s deformity and heel spurs

Haglund’s deformity and heel spurs are each bony growths, can be attributable to related issues and are handled equally. And they can each kind on the again of the heel. But heel spurs can additionally kind in a distinct spot – on the underside of the foot the place the heel bone connects to a ligament between your heels and the balls of your ft referred to as the plantar fascia.

Heel spurs are widespread, and they’re usually mistaken for different foot situations, like Haglund’s deformity. More usually, they’re attributable to a persistent tight plantar fascia or different foot situations that trigger irritation, like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis and osteoarthritis.

Haglund’s syndrome

Haglund’s deformity is one a part of what docs name Haglund’s syndrome. In addition to a bump on the heel, many individuals expertise Achilles tendonitis, when overuse causes the Achilles to swell and develop into painful, and bursitis, the place infected bursae (fluid-filled sacs) can trigger ache within the heel. If you have considered one of these situations, it turns into extra doubtless that you will develop others.

Treatments that can assist relieve signs of Haglund’s deformity

Your physician will doubtless counsel therapies to alleviate your signs earlier than recommending surgical procedure. Treatment of Haglund’s deformity often begins with small life-style adjustments that take the pressure off of your heel and assist together with your foot ache. Nonsurgical therapies embrace:

• Resting your heels – Like with many foot issues, you can alleviate ache and swelling by merely placing your ft up. Give your ft ample time to relaxation and heal, and restrict bodily actions that maintain you in your ft for extended durations of time till your signs are higher.
• Changing your footwear – Quality footwear that helps your heel, suits correctly and conforms to your foot is often the perfect therapy for Haglund’s deformity. It can assist to put on backless sneakers or sneakers with tender heels. Just do not forget that sporting backless sneakers makes your toes work more durable and can result in hammertoes and different situations, so solely put on them till your signs enhance.
• Icing your heels – To ease irritation and ache, ice the affected space just a few occasions a day for 10-Quarter-hour every time.
• Physical remedy – A bodily therapist can develop a personalised plan for you that may assist stretch and strengthen the tendons and muscle groups in your ft, ankles and calves.
• Stretching exercises – Calf stretches and standing heel raises are a great way to focus on and scale back pressure on the Achilles tendon, which is able to assist scale back the ache if the Haglund’s deformity rubs towards it.
• Taking over-the-counter remedy – Pain and different symptom administration is necessary, and you’ll wish to discover aid rapidly. Over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen can assist with ache and irritation within the short-term.
• Wearing orthotics – Over-the-counter and custom-made orthotics in your sneakers, like heel cups or shoe inserts, will cushion your heel, serving to to alleviate pressure and ache. If you have a high arch in your foot, it might assist to put on heel lifts to assist lower pressure in your heel.

Most circumstances of Haglund’s deformity reply effectively to nonsurgical therapies. But within the uncommon occasion your signs don’t reply to at-home therapy, your physician might suggest surgical procedure to take away the bump.

How Haglund’s deformity is identified

For a analysis of Haglund’s deformity, your physician will doubtless refer you to a podiatrist, which is a foot specialist that can assist you with a analysis and therapy plan. They’ll ask about your medical historical past, your occupation, bodily exercise, sort of sneakers you put on and your loved ones historical past of foot issues.

Your physician will then carry out a bodily examination and probably do a gait evaluation, the place they’ll watch the best way you stroll to find out if it may very well be inflicting issues. And as a result of Haglund’s deformity can appear to be different heel situations, akin to plantar fasciitis, your physician may order an X-ray or MRI to rule out different situations.

When to see a physician for foot issues

Haglund’s deformity can trigger vital foot ache, however with correct therapy, your ache ought to reduce and even go away over time. HealthPartners board-certified podiatrists treat foot situations that vary from widespread to advanced. They can assist by answering your questions, listening to your issues and offering you with a therapy plan that’s personalised to your particular person situation. Don’t ignore your foot ache – treat it earlier than it can develop into worse.