I’ve noticed many of my clients who complain of Achilles tendonitis and Haglund’s deformity have also expressed frustration in their healing process. Usually they voice dissatisfaction with their prescribed, boot’s effectiveness to relieve their foot pain, even after it’s been worn for a month, and then elaborate on additional pain that manifested in their hips and back since wearing the boot. I’ve also noted that in most cases orthotics were prescribed following the boot protocol, to immobilize the medial arch of the feet as a preventative measure.

While arch props may be helpful in their short-term use, their long-term use proves to be inadequate and a bit contradictory to the goal of healing and sustaining healthy foot function. You see, anything that abuts against the medial arch to prevent it from moving will throw foot mechanics off course and inhibit the arch’s ability to absorb the weight of the body. Instead, rigid props cause weight to rebound back into the bones of the transverse arch. This eventually weakens the ligaments that knit these four bones together, leading to further physical complications in other parts of the foot and body; including the recurrence of Achilles tendonitis.

Long term use of rigid orthotics affect the vertebral spine and bones of foot.

Without the benefit of spring and shock absorption provided by the foot’s medial arch, the force of weight against an unyielding arch support has also been known to rebound to the Achilles tendon causing it to tear from abrupt and misdirected weight. The propelling function of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles become interrupted, and subsequently, repetitive, brunt force inflames their tendon attachment on the posterior heel. This condition is called Achilles Tendonitis, which in its worse state of inflammation turns into a condition known as Haglund’s deformity- aka pump-bump.   Pump-bump, notoriously named for it’s occurrence with wearing pump-style shoes, is in essence, the onset of accessory tissue which develops and embeds within this large tendon to reinforce strength and preserve the tendon and bursa beneath from further threat. The more the site inflames, the larger the bump becomes.

Pump-bumps can also emerge on the back of the heels of runners from running up and down hills wearing rigid insoles in their shoes. Athletic shoe stores are popular for suggesting such shoes and employ trainers to watch their patrons’ foot mechanics with a keen eye for hyper-pronated feet. While I agreed this prop will raise a dismantled arch, it will also become a detriment to the feet and body, especially to the vertebrae of the spine which will then take the impact of rebounded weight between their discs and trigger bulging and premature degeneration. Running for exercise is bigger than ever, and therefore, in my opinion, the best case scenario is for athletic shoe stores to hire Structural Reflexology® foot assessors, to help runners achieve their highest potential, and then promote shoes that align with their philosophy. Structural Reflexologists use non-invasive tools to assess feet and weight bearing issues, and then, based on these findings, apply trademarked techniques to release muscle and joint tension on the foot and lower leg which allows broken down arches to find their normal position, balance, and strength. See tools to assess feet here.