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)

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PICTURE 1 - Natural Stance
| PICTURE 2 - Footcheck Stance
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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

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PICTURE 1 - Natural Stance
| Picture 2 - Footcheck Stance
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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