Why Do Some Football Players Cut The Heels Off Their Shoes?

In this year World Cupone very strange photo caught the attention of fans and comments: Portuguese player Pedro Neto played the match with a cut behind his laces, above the heel. It was not by accident. The change was necessary to relieve pressure on the most sensitive part of his foot.

Although the image went viral, it is not new. Over the years, some of the best football players have changed their habits in order to reduce the friction between players. shoes and the heel. In sports where the cleats are placed to the millimeter and each sprint requires sudden changes in direction, the discomfort of the heel can affect the comfort of the player and, therefore, their performance on the field.

The causes of discomfort in the heel area are different. They range from simple ones, such as scrapes and blisters, to pain caused by training and exertion, such as tendonitis, to chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis that causes one to have a “big heel” than others.

One of the most commonly cited reasons for heel discomfort at this year’s World Cup is Haglund’s syndrome. According to American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeonsthis condition is a bone growth or prominence behind the heel bone that can fight the Achilles tendon and cause pain and inflammation. Although it’s technically a “disability,” the symptoms associated with it—such as insertional tendinopathy and discomfort when wearing closed-toe shoes—make it a condition or disease.

Treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms or pain. The first step is to change the shoes. It is recommended that you wear protective shoes and avoid tight shoes, such as those used in sports, and use heel protectors. Since football cleats are required by law, they cannot be replaced, but they can be replaced. It is the same “loophole” as it is related to the cut of football socks.

The disease was discovered after the match between Portugal and Spain. Player Pedro Neto wore two pairs of cleats with a cut out heel. There is no public information to explain why the player decided to change his match in the game. There is also no word from Neto or his team confirming that he has Haglund’s disease.

In professional football, there is no one-size-fits-all shoe. Although the models used in the World Cup are the same as those available in the market, the players change them to fit the shape of their feet or to reduce other problems. The football boot that made headlines with its cut heel is the Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 Elite.

This article appeared first WIRED in Spanish and translated from Spanish.