Has your child been complaining of heel pain or walking with a limp after activity? They could be suffering from a condition called Sever’s disease, which is the most common cause of heel pain in growing children, especially those who play sports or exercise regularly. Although it can be quite debilitating, Sever’s disease is self-limiting once the child stops growing. However, an early diagnosis and correct management plan can help get your child pain free sooner and back doing the things they love. 

What is Sever’s Disease?

The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the growth plate (a soft area of cartilage where bone growth occurs) in the back of the heel. Because bones often grow faster than muscle, the Achilles tendon can become tight, particularly during periods of rapid growth, which then causes the back of the heel to become inflamed and painful. Sever’s disease is also more likely to occur in activities that involve running and jumping as these cause increase load through the already tight Achilles tendon. The most common symptom of Sever’s disease is pain or tenderness in the back of one or both heels. The pain usually occurs at the back of the heel, but it can also extend to the sides and bottom of the heel. Other symptoms may include swelling and redness around the heel and foot discomfort or stiffness after sleeping.

Prevention and Management

Managing Sever’s disease involves a comprehensive approach to reduce pain, promote healing, and address any other contributing factors. Treatment involves more than just manual therapy and your Osteopath can guide you through an individualised management plan. Here are some general tips you can follow to help with the prevention and self-management of Sever’s disease:

• Encourage proper warm-up and stretching before physical activity.
• Ensure children wear supportive shoes with cushioned insoles and adequate arch support, especially during physical activity.
• As much as want our children to keep active, they made need periods of rest, especially avoiding activities that exacerbate heel pain, such as running or jumping, until symptoms improve.
• Ice Therapy: Apply ice packs to the affected heel for 15-20 minutes several times a day to reduce inflammation and pain.
• Gradual Return to Activity: Once symptoms subside, gradually reintroduce activities to avoid overloading the heel and reaggravating pain.

We understand this can be a difficult and frustrating time for both the child and parent, so if you have any questions or would like to book an appointment with one of our osteopaths, please call on 5977-0466 or click on the link above to book online.