The Ariat Sport Mule is a stylish, heeled mule constructed with a high-quality leather upper and a stable raised heel polyurethane outsole. The raised heel is ideal for treating painful conditions like Achilles tendonitis.

Achilles tendonitis is a painful condition involving the Achilles tendon prior to its attachment into the back of the heel bone. The Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon in the body and consists of muscle fibers originating from the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles in the back of the leg. The Achilles tendon is a major muscle group that helps to lift the heel off the ground during normal walking activity.

Overuse of the Achilles tendon with activity that lifts the heel off the ground, including excessive walking on hilly terrain, use of a ‘Stair Stepper’ or ‘NordicTrack’ can contribute to the problem. Other factors can include an excessively tight Achilles tendon or making a shift from a high-heeled shoe into a relatively flat shoe – like a running shoe.