Sever’s disease is a foot or ankle pain often seen in active children and can cause limping after and during sport. The heel bone becomes sore and inflamed at the heel bone growth plate at the back of the heel.

Age groups with heel pain

Sever’s disease is most common in active kids aged 8 to 15. Quick growth spurts are often experienced during this heel pain, and more boys than girls experience Sever’s disease. Children that we have treated have experienced their pain whilst playing soccer, basketball, netball, tennis and football.

Symptoms

Initially a child will complain of soreness at their heels and may be limping. If the condition continues, they may experience pain during their sport especially when running. The more activity a child does, the greater their heel pain will be.

Treatment Options

During our podiatry consultations, biomechanical assessment is completed along with physically testing the heel bone to see the extent of the pain. If needed, imaging such as X-rays can be referred for to allow accurate diagnoses.

Treatment can involve a combination of:

• Footwear Assessment
• Ice application prior to stretching and strengthening leg muscles
• Physical therapies to resolve inflammation
• Foot orthoses to wear in school and sport shoes to improve biomechanics at the heel and ankle
• Treatment program focusing on optimal loading on heel bone and leg muscles during activity
• Padding and strapping (to foot and footwear) to improve comfort and healing of the injured area.

Children may experience heel pain from ankle sprains, bursitis, tumors, tendinitis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or stress fractures. It is helpful to see a Podiatrist and rule out these types of heel pain.

If your children are suffering from foot pain, we would love the opportunity to chat with you and suggest options to improve your child’s pain.