Heel pain in youth

A common condition that young athletes experience either before or during rapid growth spurts is Sever’s disease. Sever’s disease occurs when there is excessive pulling of the Achilles’ tendon on the unfused heel bone causing inflammation. It often occurs in people who have a big increase in physical activity and in running and jumping sports.

The symptoms of Sever’s disease include severe pain at the back of the heel with exercise particularly running and jumping, worsening of pain after exercise, and limping. These symptoms often mean these young athletes have to reduce their participation in physical activity and sports that they enjoy. 

While Sever’s disease will subside after the complete fusion of the heel bones at around 15 years of age, physio can play a role in managing the condition and maximising participation prior to this.

Some treatment methods include strengthening exercises, heel lifts, taping, physical activity modification and soft tissue massage. Your physio should develop an individualised treatment plan depending on your child’s own personal experience with Sever’s. 

By Katherine Viti, student at Exercise Thought

References:

Elengard, T., Karlsson, J., & Silbernagel, K. G. (2010). Aspects of treatment for posterior heel pain in young athletes. Open Access J Sports Med, 1(default), 223-232. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S15413