If your child complains of heel pain, you should definitely take their complaints seriously. Children – particularly those who are athletic/physically active in the early part of puberty, which for girls typically happens between 8 – 10 years of age and for boys between 10 – 12 years of age – may have what is called Sever’s Disease. This condition occurs in children during their growth stages when the growth plate in the heel is injured. What typically happens is that in early puberty, bones grow faster than muscles and tendons. Muscles and tendons become tight as a result and the heel is less flexible. When the child stands or bears any weight on his or her heel, the tight heel tendons may put too much pressure on the back of the heel, injuring the heel and causing Sever’s disease.
Signs that your child may be suffering from Sever’s disease include pain in one or both heels that usually occurs with activity (usually around the time your child would begin a new sport or season), a tendency to tiptoe, walking with a limp, increased intensity of pain when running or jumping. Another sign is if your child’s heel hurts when you squeeze both sides toward the very back of the heel.
The good news about Sever’s disease is that it is highly treatable with non-invasive methods. The first thing to do is to stop or limit any activity that causes the child pain. Treat the injured heel with ice for 20 minutes at a time, 3 times a day. If you notice that your child has a high arch, flat feet, or bowed legs, you may want to bring your child in to one of our six clinic locations for orthotics, arch supports, or heel cups. For a child with severe heel pain, your doctor may recommend acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief.
Stretching exercises can help lessen the pain of Sever’s disease; particularly those that stretch the hamstring and calf muscles and tendons on the back of the leg. These stretches should be performed 2 or 3 times a day and held for about 20 seconds in both legs, even if only one heel is experiencing pain.
Sever’s disease does not typically cause any long term problems, but you should call your doctor if the pain doesn’t get better after treatment, the pain gets worse, or if you notice swelling or changes to the skin color. Typically after treatment, children feel better anywhere between 2 weeks and 2 months. The doctor will let you and your child know when it is safe to resume normal physical activity.
Signs that your child may be suffering from Sever’s disease include pain in one or both heels that usually occurs with activity (usually around the time your child would begin a new sport or season), a tendency to tiptoe, walking with a limp, increased intensity of pain when running or jumping. Another sign is if your child’s heel hurts when you squeeze both sides toward the very back of the heel.
The good news about Sever’s disease is that it is highly treatable with non-invasive methods. The first thing to do is to stop or limit any activity that causes the child pain. Treat the injured heel with ice for 20 minutes at a time, 3 times a day. If you notice that your child has a high arch, flat feet, or bowed legs, you may want to bring your child in to one of our six clinic locations for orthotics, arch supports, or heel cups. For a child with severe heel pain, your doctor may recommend acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief.
Stretching exercises can help lessen the pain of Sever’s disease; particularly those that stretch the hamstring and calf muscles and tendons on the back of the leg. These stretches should be performed 2 or 3 times a day and held for about 20 seconds in both legs, even if only one heel is experiencing pain.
Sever’s disease does not typically cause any long term problems, but you should call your doctor if the pain doesn’t get better after treatment, the pain gets worse, or if you notice swelling or changes to the skin color. Typically after treatment, children feel better anywhere between 2 weeks and 2 months. The doctor will let you and your child know when it is safe to resume normal physical activity.
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