CEP
Dr. Macy gives us a primer on a common cause of heel
pain in the growing child, Sever’s disease. Recognize
the signs and symptoms and utilize the treatment
options Dr. Macy outlines to get these active children
running pain free again. This article is available for
Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit.
While heel pain a child may be
linked to a growth spurt, more
commonly it is related to a
growth plate injury.
A child with heel pain or difficulty walking may
have Sever’s Disease, also known as calcaneal
apophysitis. In this condition, the heel bone grows
faster than the surrounding tendons and muscles
during a growth spurt, and they are overstretched.
More commonly, there are biomechanical factors
which will trigger the condition. The added
stresses of sports activities and/or extra weight can
often lead to the onset of Sever’s. The Achilles
tendon inserts into the posterior side of the
calcaneal apophysis. In feet which overpronate
there can be a torque applied to the growth plate.
These feet can be identified by view-ing the feet
from behind. Significant calcaneal eversion will
typically be noted. Children with tight Achilles
tendons are also likely to pronate excessively
and the tightness of the gastrosoleus complex
alone puts extra tension on the tendon and the
apophysis.
SYMPTOMS OF THIS CONDITION INCLUDE:
Read This Article,
Take Survey to
Earn Continuing
Education Points
The Pedorthic Footcare Association
(PFA) offers Continuing Education Points
(CEPs), approved by the American Board
for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics
& Pedorthics, Inc. (ABC) and the Board
of Certification/Accreditation (BOC), via
specially designated articles within Current
Pedorthics magazine.
To take advantage of the program,
thoroughly read the adjacent CEU article
and then visit:
www.pedorthics.org and click on the
Continuing Education Opportunities tab to
purchase the 10-question quiz associated
with this article. CEP quizzes cost $15 for
members and $25 for non-members. The
quizzes are worth 1.0 Scientific or Business
CEP, depending on the content. Successful
completion of the quiz will result in 1.0 CEP
reported directly to ABC and BOC at the
end of each quarter.
Look for additional CEP-eligible articles in
future issues of the magazine; previous
articles are available in the magazine archive
at www.pedorthics.org.
If you have any questions, contact
PFA, at (229) 389-3440 or e-mail:
[email protected].
• Heel pain that eases with rest, and is
worse after athletic activities like jumping
or running
Current Pedorthics July/August 2016
39