Heel Support Boot - Pressure relief and lower limb stability for vulnerable or immobile patients.
- Prevents Equinus Deformity in Immobile Patients - the Heel Support Boot incorporates an anatomical curve that holds the foot at a neutral or slightly dorsiflexed angle, preventing the progressive plantarflexion contracture known as equinus deformity; in immobile patients, gravity and the tone of the calf musculature pull the foot into plantarflexion (toes pointing down) over time; without correction, the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia shorten and contract, making subsequent dorsiflexion impossible without pain or surgical intervention; the boot's structural profile counteracts this gravitational pull throughout the positioning period, maintaining the foot in a functional position that preserves mobility for rehabilitation.
- Heel Offloading Through Anatomical Boot Contouring - the boot's contoured inner surface holds the heel in a zone that is supported by the posterior calf and the sides of the heel rather than by the calcaneal bony prominence itself; this partial heel offloading approach reduces interface pressure at the calcaneus while the boot's overall structure provides lower limb stability and rotation prevention; the viscoelastic memory foam adapts to the individual foot shape within the boot profile, maximising the contact area between the boot and the calf to distribute the calf load broadly.
- Prevents Unwanted Limb Rotation - in supine immobile patients, the legs tend to externally rotate (turn outward) under gravity, placing the lateral malleolus and peroneal tendons in prolonged contact with the mattress; external rotation also places abnormal tension on the medial knee structures; the Heel Support Boot's secure enclosure of the foot and lower leg prevents this rotation by maintaining the leg in a neutral alignment, protecting the lateral malleolus from prolonged contact pressure and reducing the strain on medial knee structures.
- For Pressure Prevention and Treatment - Bi-Stretch PU Cover - 635x220x310mm - indicated for both pressure ulcer prevention in high-risk immobile patients and for treatment of existing heel pressure injuries where a zero-contact or near-zero-contact heel environment accelerates healing; bi-stretch polyurethane cover is washable and semi-permeable; MDR 2017/745 Class I medical device; occupational therapist or tissue viability assessment per NICE CG179; product code NCL-P903T1HW.
Heel Support Boot - Visco Foam - Equinus Prevention - Rotation Control - Heel Offloading - 635x220x310mm
The Heel Support Boot provides anatomically contoured viscoelastic memory foam heel offloading while simultaneously preventing equinus deformity through its neutral-angle foot profile and controlling unwanted external limb rotation through its enclosing boot structure. Indicated for both prevention and treatment of heel pressure injuries in immobile patients. Bi-stretch polyurethane semi-permeable washable cover. Dimensions: 635 x 220 x 310mm. MDR 2017/745 Class I. NICE CG179. NCL-P903T1HW.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Construction | Viscoelastic memory foam with anatomical curve |
| Cover | Bi-stretch polyurethane - semi-permeable; washable |
| Dimensions | 635 x 220 x 310mm |
| Heel Function | Offloading via calf and lateral heel support within boot |
| Equinus Prevention | Anatomical curve holds foot at neutral to dorsiflexed angle |
| Rotation Prevention | Boot enclosure maintains neutral limb rotation |
| Indication | Prevention and treatment of heel pressure injuries in immobile patients |
| Reference | NCL-P903T1HW |
| Regulatory Status | MDR 2017/745 Class I medical device |
Regulatory Compliance
The Heel Support Boot is a Class I medical device under MDR 2017/745. Clinical selection requires occupational therapist or tissue viability assessment per NICE CG179, with the equinus prevention indication and heel pressure care goals documented in the care plan. Where the boot is used for heel ulcer treatment, the tissue viability nurse must document the treatment rationale and wound care protocol. Equipment register records and MDR conformity documentation must be maintained for CQC Regulation 12 compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is equinus deformity and why is preventing it clinically important for immobile care home residents?
Equinus deformity is a fixed contracture of the ankle in plantarflexion - where the foot is permanently positioned with the toes pointing downward and the heel elevated, like the toe-pointed position of a ballet dancer but fixed and unable to return to a normal angle. It develops in immobile patients when the foot is allowed to remain in the natural gravity-favoured plantarflexed position for extended periods; the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) and the Achilles tendon adaptively shorten to the angle they are repeatedly placed in, and the ankle joint capsule tightens in that position. Once established, equinus deformity significantly impairs rehabilitation potential: a resident who cannot bring their foot to 90 degrees cannot adopt a safe standing position with the foot flat on the floor, which is a prerequisite for safe transfers, standing, and walking; the deformity effectively limits or prevents the resident from achieving functional independence in mobility even after other aspects of their condition improve. Prevention requires maintaining the foot at or near 90 degrees during periods of immobility, which the Heel Support Boot achieves through the structure of its anatomical curve working against the gravity-driven plantarflexion position throughout the night and during extended bed rest.
How does the Heel Support Boot achieve heel offloading within its enclosing structure?
Unlike a cushion or wedge that offloads the heel by suspending it above the contact surface or supporting it in a hollow, the Heel Support Boot offloads the heel within an enclosing structure by distributing the foot's weight to the posterior calf and the lateral borders of the heel rather than the calcaneal prominence. The boot's inner surface contacts the posterior lower leg (calf), the Achilles region, and the lateral heel borders while the calcaneum itself is recessed within the boot's contoured interior; the calcaneus does not press against the boot's inner surface at the heel's central point. The viscoelastic foam lines the boot interior and conforms to the calf surface, maximising the contact area across the broader posterior calf zone to keep the unit interface pressure as low as possible. For residents with existing heel ulcers, the tissue viability nurse must confirm that the boot's offloading distribution does not inadvertently apply pressure to the wound edges during the contact that does occur at the lateral heel and Achilles zones, and the boot fit must be assessed against the specific wound location before deployment in treatment applications.
NCL-P903T1HW
- Prevents Equinus Deformity in Immobile Patients - the Heel Support Boot incorporates an anatomical curve that holds the foot at a neutral or slightly dorsiflexed angle, preventing the progressive plantarflexion contracture known as equinus deformity; in immobile patients, gravity and the tone of the calf musculature pull the foot into plantarflexion (toes pointing down) over time; without correction, the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia shorten and contract, making subsequent dorsiflexion impossible without pain or surgical intervention; the boot's structural profile counteracts this gravitational pull throughout the positioning period, maintaining the foot in a functional position that preserves mobility for rehabilitation.
- Heel Offloading Through Anatomical Boot Contouring - the boot's contoured inner surface holds the heel in a zone that is supported by the posterior calf and the sides of the heel rather than by the calcaneal bony prominence itself; this partial heel offloading approach reduces interface pressure at the calcaneus while the boot's overall structure provides lower limb stability and rotation prevention; the viscoelastic memory foam adapts to the individual foot shape within the boot profile, maximising the contact area between the boot and the calf to distribute the calf load broadly.
- Prevents Unwanted Limb Rotation - in supine immobile patients, the legs tend to externally rotate (turn outward) under gravity, placing the lateral malleolus and peroneal tendons in prolonged contact with the mattress; external rotation also places abnormal tension on the medial knee structures; the Heel Support Boot's secure enclosure of the foot and lower leg prevents this rotation by maintaining the leg in a neutral alignment, protecting the lateral malleolus from prolonged contact pressure and reducing the strain on medial knee structures.
- For Pressure Prevention and Treatment - Bi-Stretch PU Cover - 635x220x310mm - indicated for both pressure ulcer prevention in high-risk immobile patients and for treatment of existing heel pressure injuries where a zero-contact or near-zero-contact heel environment accelerates healing; bi-stretch polyurethane cover is washable and semi-permeable; MDR 2017/745 Class I medical device; occupational therapist or tissue viability assessment per NICE CG179; product code NCL-P903T1HW.