Haglund’s deformity
is characterized by pain on the back of the lateral heel. This is due
to bony enlargement of the calcaneus, which in turn causes soft tissue
swelling when rubbed against shoe gear. Often times in a Haglund’s deformity
retrocalcaneal bursitis is present. This is simply irritation of a
small fluid filled sac that lies between the Achilles tendon and the
calcaneus. As previously stated, patients suffering from Haglund’s deformity
generally present with symptoms of pain, redness and swelling on the
back of the outside heel.
Haglund’s deformity is sometimes referred to
as a “pump bump” due to its presence being accredited to the “pump”
style shoe that often cause it. However, Haglund’s deformity
doesn’t only manifest due to calcaneal irritation from pump shoes. Mens
dress shoes, ice skates, and any shoes with a rigid back can also cause
this soft tissue swelling.
If Haglund’s deformity is a condition that parallels something you’re currently experiencing please visit Dr. Michael Garvin’s website for more information, or if you’re in the Port Saint Lucie, Florida area, schedule an appointment at one of his offices. 
Biomechanics and a patient's foot health have a strong correlation. Biomechanics can be defined as the science of internal and external forces and their affect on the human body. An example of an internal force would be an individual's body weight. An example of an external force would be the ground's forces upwards on the foot during an individual's gait.
Biomechanics have a strong correlation with an individual’s foot health because these aforementioned forces must be compensated for, so that the human foot properly adapts to this energy. If the foot is not able to adapt to these forces and improperly absorbs the energy created from gait, many pathological manifestations can occur. To name a few of the possible conditions derived from improper biomechanics: plantar fasciitis, shin splints, bunions, hammer toes, stress fractures, claw toes, and the list goes on.
If you are experiencing pain during walking, running, jumping etc.. and think you may have any irregularities in your biomechanical processes, please contact one of Dr. Michael Garvin’s offices in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Dr. Garvin has been analyzing patients biomechanics for many years and always seeks to treat and correct the underlying causes of pain. To obtain further information regarding your biomechanics and foot health please visit his website!
*This schematic depicts forces applied to the human skeleton that are experienced during normal walking.
An orthosis
is a device used by podiatrists to correct an abnormality in a patient's
gait, or provide additional cushion and control for a surgically
corrected condition. Orthotics can be made out of a variety of different materials, and many times are made by a podiatrist
in office. The materials chosen for fabrication of the device are
generally contingent upon the condition being treated and cost
effectiveness. Orthotics
are often times one of a podiatrists favorite tools as it allows them
to treat an extremely broad variety of foot-related ailments with a
minimally invasive technique. Once the orthosis is made it can simply be placed into the patients shoe similarly as an insole would be.
Most insurance companies will cover the cost of an orthotic
and they’re often times the best treatment for patients. Especially
patients who can’t afford to spend time off their feet with any kind of
surgical recovery. Some conditions that are commonly treated with an orthotic, but certainly not limited to are bunions, tailors bunions, hallux limitus and rigidus, ankle equinus, plantar fasciitis, digital subluxations, Morton’s Neuroma, high arched feet/Pes Cavus, Diabetes related conditions, and many more.
