Is it normal for my child to have sore heels?

Heel pain or “ Sever’s Disease “ is a common complaint we see in the studio at Undefeeted Podiatry in growing children between the ages of 9 to 12. It typically occurs during a growth spurt and is more common in active children that participate in sports involving, repeated jumping or running.

Sever’s disease is a direct result of swelling and inflammation of the growth plate in the heel.   This is caused by an excessive force of overuse applied to the tendons which insert into the heel. Typical signs and symptoms you may notice in your child is, limping, running or walking awkwardly, pain in one or both heels following activity and a significant increase in pain when asked to rise up on to their tip toes.

We have put together a few helpful tips that may help your champion back in the game:

1. A review with one of our podiatrist in the studio at Undefeeted podiatry.   
2. Appropriate footwear that is comfortable, fits correctly and provides adequate arch and heel support.
3. Icing for when flare ups occur, applied directly to the back of the heel for 15 minutes. 
4. Massage of the calf muscles and Achilles tendon.
5. Stretching and strengthening exercises focusing on the calf muscles.
6. Temporary use of heel lifts or cushions
7. Correction of any biomechanical issues, with the use of orthotics.
8. Rest and modification of sport, including a reduction or cessation of activity.  

We expect an improvement in pain within 2 weeks following an appointment with one of our Podiatrists in our studio at Undefeeted podiatry.  A significant reduction in pain after 6 to 12 months should be seen, but in some cases pain may persist for up to 2 years. If your child has been accurately assessed, diagnosed and treated within our studio, your child will recover with no long term problems.

If your child is experiencing significant heel and it is not treated correctly, fracturing of the growth plate can occur affecting heel bone growth. Therefore, at Undefeeted Podiatry we take heel pain seriously, book in today for a comprehensive foot assessment with one of our high skilled Podiatrist’s.