Case Study - Recovery after "Ruptured Achilles Tendon Surgery" highlighted postural problems

How recovery after "Ruptured Achilles Tendon Surgery" highlighted postural problems resulting from childhood foot and ankle injuries

Case Study 35 year old female

Introduction

I presented with the following problems:

Ruptured left Achilles Tendon
Persistent pain in the sacroiliac joint
Extreme weakness in the left leg
Bunion forming on the right foot
Pain in the right tendon
Crepitus in both knees
Excessive wear marks on shoes

My History

Continuous foot/ankle sprains and twists from being a juvenile hurdler
Left hamstring sprain when I was a teenager
Sacroiliac joint instability

Footcheck system evolved, in an attempt to answer why I was so injury prone. Footcheck was designed as an analytical tool to monitor and correct foot & ankle posture whilst executing the following exercises:
Squats, heel raises, lunges and foot stretches.

Recovery Process

Natural stance compared to Footcheck stance 2006 (post AT rupture)


PICTURE 1 - Natural Stance	PICTURE 2 - Footcheck Stance

Findings on Assessment

Visual differences
Knees out of line (right knee lower than left)
Diameter of right knee was 2cm smaller than left
Large gaps between 1st and 2nd toes
Limbs becoming bow legged

Physical differences

Right leg muscles tougher and less pliable than left (poor muscle quality)
Right knee joint out of place
When doing lunges, right knee was out of line with the toes (right leg crooked)

Active differences

Both knees crunches when squatting (crepitus)
Click in both ankles on rotating
Poor range of motion in left foot when doing heel raises

From my science background, I recalled Newton’s 3rd Law. "for every reaction there is an equal and opposite reaction"

The natural stance and Footcheck stance can be represented in a pulley diagram as shown below;

Turning point
Contrary to what one would expect (i.e. strengthening the left leg…), I concentrated on the right leg which was extremely difficult to resolve as it was crooked. The joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons were misaligned.

Method for correcting this

Footcheck mat and exercise routine
Very deep and intensive muscle and joint sculpturing and massage
Stretches

Pictures to date
Natural stance compared to Footcheck stance 2016


PICTURE 1 - Natural Stance	Picture 2 - Footcheck Stance

Recovery

Natural stance and Footcheck almost similar (both knees equal in diameter)
Feet and ankles stronger and aligned
Sacroiliac joint stabilised
Gap between 1st and 2nd toes reduced
Right leg straightened (no leg length discrepancy)
Wear marks on shoes reduced

Conclusion

Using Footcheck as a specific diagnostic tool, it was possible to identify asymmetrical problems
The whole process highlighted the long term effect of unresolved ankle and foot injuries.
Unresolved foot and ankle injuries can lead to leg imbalances which have a subsequent effect on knees, hips and back
As a podiatrist my work has highlighted how frequent ankle and foot injuries occur
As an athletic coach I see plenty of foot and ankle sprains among kids