Haglund’s Deformity
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Halund’s Deformity is a bony growth that develops on the back of the heel bone where the Achilles Tendon wraps around the calcaneus. The insertion of the Achilles Tendon plays a significant role in the levels of pain experienced for those with a Haglund’s deformity as this bony growth can rub off the underside of the Achilles’ tendon and this can be extremely painful with certain movements and exercises. For this reason, rehabilitation can be tricky and choosing the right exercises is important.
This article will provide a group of exercises that we find most effective with our patients who have a Haglund’s deformity. It is not a one-size-fits-all but hopefully, they can provide you with some much-needed pain relief.
The best exercises for Haglund’s Deformity should stretch and condition the tendon to absorb load without irritating the patient’s symptoms. When going into dorsiflexion (lifting the foot upwards) past neutral, a Haglund’s Deformity can rub off the underside of the Achilles Tendon, so where possible we try to avoid this position with repetitive exercises. However, short periods of time in a dorsiflexed position for stretches are generally beneficial.
We use isometric exercises to condition the Achilles Tendon as we can get a large amount of force through the tendon without irritating it.
Standing Gastrocnemius Stretch
Isometric Heel Raise for Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy
Single-Leg Balance: Wobble Cushion
This is not medical advice. We recommend a consultation with a medical professional such as James McCormack. He offers Online Physiotherapy Appointments for £45.
Related Article: Haglund’s Deformity: Symptoms and Causes