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Haglund’s Deformity: Debunking the Bony Bump

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What is that odd-looking bump near the back of your heel? It could be Haglund’s deformity, often referred to as “pump bump,” which is a bony enlargement located where the Achilles tendon attaches. This prominent bone can cause significant discomfort and irritation, especially when wearing shoes.

Luckily, we at Carrollton Foot Center are here to debunk the bony bump and offer expert insight into all things Haglund’s Deformity. Let’s take a look.

Causes of Haglund’s Deformity

While the exact cause is often unclear, several factors contribute to the development of Haglund’s Deformity. These include:

  • Foot structure: Individuals with high arches or flat feet may be more susceptible.
  • Shoe gear: Wearing shoes with rigid backs, such as high heels or tight-fitting footwear, can exacerbate the condition.
  • Overuse: Repetitive activities that put stress on the heel, like running or dancing, may contribute to the bony growth.
  • Achilles tendon tightness: A stiff Achilles tendon can pull on the heel bone, contributing to the deformity.

Symptoms of Haglund’s Deformity

Individuals with Haglund’s deformity often experience pain and inflammation at the back of the heel, which can worsen with shoe friction. The affected area may also become red, swollen, or blistered.

Prevention

While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent Haglund’s deformity, certain measures can help reduce the risk:

  • Proper footwear: Choose shoes that fit well and provide adequate cushioning. Avoid tight-fitting shoes or those with hard backs, and regularly replace worn out shoes.
  • Stretching exercises: Incorporate calf stretches into your daily routine to maintain flexibility.
  • Orthotics: Custom orthotics can help distribute pressure and alleviate discomfort.
  • Weight management: Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce overall stress on the foot and heel.

Treatment

Treatment for Haglund’s deformity focuses on pain relief and inflammation reduction. Non-surgical options include over-the-counter pain relievers, shoe modifications, and physical therapy. For severe cases, cortisone injections or surgery may be considered.

Depending on the severity of your bump, consult with your podiatrist to see which treatment option is the best for you.

Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Naghmeh Lilly Khavari is dedicated to her clients in Carrollton, TX. From ingrown toenails to innovative surgical solutions, she offers a vast array of treatments. Contact Carrollton Foot Center’s office at 469-998-3668 to book an appointment now!

Fouling Out: 5 Game-Stopping Basketball Foot Injuries

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The NBA finals are here, which means summer leagues, AAU, and intense training sessions are upon us. We at Carrollton Foot Center understand that basketball is a fast-paced sport that demands a lot from your feet all year round.

Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, learning common basketball foot injuries and proper foot care is essential for staying healthy and hitting those jumpers this summer. That’s what this blog’s about.

Common Basketball Foot Injuries

The constant jumping, stopping, and changing directions on the court carries a risk for various injuries:

  • Ankle Sprains: This is perhaps the most common basketball injury, occurring when the ligaments in your ankle overstretch or tear. It can happen due to landing awkwardly, stepping on someone’s foot, or rolling your ankle outwards. Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking.
  • Plantar Fasciitis: This painful inflammation of the heel is often linked to repetitive stress from activities like basketball.
  • Achilles Tendonitis: Even legends such as Kobe Bryant have experienced issues with their Achilles. Overuse or tight calf muscles can irritate this tendon, causing pain and stiffness, particularly in the back of your heel and ankle.
  • Stress Fractures: These tiny cracks in the bones of your foot can develop from repetitive stress, especially in athletes who increase their training intensity too quickly.
  • Ingrown Toenails: Tight-fitting basketball shoes can put pressure on your toes, increasing the risk of ingrown toenails that dig into the surrounding skin, causing pain, redness, and swelling.

Essential Foot Care for Basketball Players

  • Invest in high-quality basketball shoes that provide adequate support, cushioning, and stability for your feet. Choose shoes specific to your playing position.
  • Regularly consulting a podiatrist can be highly beneficial, especially for athletes. They can assess your feet, identify potential problems early on, and recommend orthotics or other preventative measures.

By incorporating proper foot care practices into your routine, you can significantly reduce your risk of injuries and keep your feet healthy for optimal performance.

Consult with Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Naghmeh Lilly Khavari, a well-respected expert who is eager to assist her patients in Denton, Dallas, and Collins Counties. She treats a vast array of issues, from ingrown toenails to plantar fasciitis. Call Carrollton Foot Center’s office (located in Carrollton, Texas) at (469)-998-3668 to book your initial consultation today!

Barefoot Running: The Pleasure and the Pain

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With the foot pain many of us experience from running, it’s tempting to turn to the Barefoot Running Movement for answers! However, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association, the benefits of barefoot running have never been confirmed by research. Although the movement touts upsides such as improved circulation, coordination, and strength, you should speak with our experts at Carrollton Foot Center to ensure barefoot running will be safe and effective for you.

Bare Feet Vs. Regular Shoes

According to the Barefoot Running Movement, humans have been running barefoot since ancient times. Shoes, however, are a recent creation that stunts the way you are naturally designed to move. This notion that regular running shoes are unnatural may make sense to you if your feet hurt while running. This may also explain the success of “minimalist” or “five-toed” shoes. In between bare feet and regular running kicks, minimalist shoes act as a compromise to the pros and cons of pure barefoot running.

Benefits of Barefoot Running:

  • Encourages a more natural running This can help reduce impact on your joints, shorten your strides, and increase athletic performance.
  • Promotes landing on the ball of your feet as opposed to “heel striking,” reducing the chance of injury and plantar fasciitis.
  • Strengthens the muscles in your foot that aren’t usually engaged in regular shoes. Progressively, this could correct flat feet and similar arch problems.

Downsides of Barefoot Running:

  • Increases risk of infection and skin injury. This is especially the case for diabetics, who may not have proper feeling in their feet.
  • Takes time getting acclimated to the “natural” running form. Acclimation struggles also extend to not having access to clean or safe terrain.
  • Heightens the chance of stress fractures and Achilles injuries. This is due to lack of foot support.

Ultimately, it is necessary to weigh both sides to see if barefoot running is right for you. Consult with Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Naghmeh Lilly Khavari, a well respected expert who is eager to assist her patients in Denton, Dallas, and Collins Counties. She treats a vast array of issues, from ingrown toenails to plantar fasciitis. Call Carrollton Foot Center’s office (located in Carrollton, Texas) at (469)-998-3668 to book your initial consultation today!

Signs of Achilles Tendinitis

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What do you know about the Achilles tendon? If it’s strained, you may be feeling stiffness, pain, and discomfort. You can feel pain in the morning. You may also notice it more when wearing shoes with a closed back. Dr. Naghmeh Lilly Khavari of the Carrollton Foot Center helps patients with this pain by providing treatment options to get them back to a healthy way of moving. Healing takes time, but making an appointment with a podiatrist is the first step.

What is the Achilles tendon?

The Achilles tendon is the longest and thickest in the body, and you can find it behind each leg. It connects the heel bone to the muscles in your calf and allows you to point your toes or stretch your leg.

What causes Achilles tendinitis?

Athletes commonly have Achilles tendinitis because of overuse or intensity levels. Often, their bodies need time to rest and recover. Poorly fitting shoes or an unhealthy weight can also contribute to an increased risk for an injury. Inflammation causes discomfort. 

What are the symptoms of Achilles Tendinitis?

You can notice pain, tenderness, or stiffness in the following locations:

  • Just above the heel bone
  • Behind the heel bone
  • Back of the leg

What are the treatment options for Achilles Tendinitis?

Before attempting to figure things out on your own, make an appointment with a podiatrist. We’re here to help you find relief and avoid worsening your injury. Before considering surgery, explore the following treatment options:

If a podiatrist determines there has been a rupture of the tendon, surgery is the best option.

Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Naghmeh Lilly Khavari, is here to help. She treats various conditions such as bunions, corns, calluses, diabetic foot conditions, ingrown toenails, plantar fasciitis, and more. We also offer advanced surgical solutions. Our team provides excellent service to patients in Denton, Dallas, and Collins counties. Contact our office at (469) 998-3668 for your foot and ankle solutions. Our office is at 4221 Medical Parkway, STE 450, in Carrollton, TX.

Shockwave Therapy: An Alternative to Surgery

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There’s some exciting news electrifying the world of podiatry today: a shocking alternative to invasive surgical procedures! Though it was invented in the mid-1960s, this innovative treatment method has become especially known in the last few decades thanks to advancements in podiatric medicine. While traditional surgical methods are appropriate in certain cases and often serve as viable options to treat various foot and ankle issues, podiatrists have worked hard to develop less invasive alternatives that produce similar or better results. One of these treatment methods, in particular, called Shockwave Therapy, is a treatment offered by Dr. Lily Khavari to address several types of foot and ankle pain. Though Shockwave Therapy is most commonly used to treat heel pain, that’s not all it can be used to address:

  • Stress fractures
  • Corns & Calluses
  • Neuromas

While the name of this treatment method might sound like it could be painful, Shockwave Therapy is well known for being relatively painless. Shockwave Therapy utilizes high-intensity soundwaves by directing them at target areas that are painful, inflamed, or uncomfortable. These soundwaves penetrate the tissues deep within our bodies. As a result, they stimulate the growth and development of healthy new tissues to replace damaged, inflamed tissues. Prior to Shockwave Therapy becoming widely used with leading podiatrists, foot issues like plantar fasciitis and chronic tendinitis were treated by surgical intervention. It can take a lot of time to prepare for surgery when you consider getting time off of work, having to go under anesthesia and the recovery time of the incision site. When comparing this to trying Shockwave Therapy first, you could:

  • Avoid long waits for a surgery date
  • Going under anesthesia
  • Taking up to a week or more off of work
  • Virtually eliminate a painful recovery that requires drugs
  • Enjoying the same success rate as invasive surgery

Our team at Carrollton Foot Center in Carrollton, Texas offers the best care in town. If Shockwave Therapy has piqued your interest, follow up today! Call us at (469) 998-3668 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Khavari.

Contact Us

We’d love to hear any question or concern you have.

4221 Medical Parkway
STE 450
Carrollton, TX

(469) 998-3668

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