Heel Pain in Children
shoes. Children who spend a lot
• Tenderness when the back of
of time in Uggs or flip-flops will
the heel is squeezed. A feeling of
continue to have problems with
tightness may also be there
their heel pain.
• Limping
• Athletic shoes with cleats can be
• Inability to walk unless on tip toe
a problem, depending on the cleat
Sever's disease can be found at different
ages by gender because of the different
ages of girls' and boys' growth spurts. For
example, boys usually experience growth
spurts at ages 10 to 14, so that's when the
risk of Sever's disease is greatest. Girls,
whose growth spurts are earlier between
ages 9 and 13, may have Sever's disease at
those earlier ages.
PREVENTING SEVER'S DISEASE
It is possible to prevent this painful
condition with some common sense steps
that are good tips for children of any age:
• Provide them with supportive,
well-fitting and well-cushioned
40
Pedorthic Footcare Association www.pedorthics.org
pattern and how hard the cleats
are. Running for condittioning
purposes should be done while
wearing running shoes, not cleats.
• Stretching exercises of the
hamstrings, heel and calf.
• Maintaining a healthy weight to
minimize stress on the heel.
• Limit running and jumping on
surfaces that are inflexible and
hard.
• Prevent over-training, especially
if the heels are painful.
The good news? The risk of Sever's
Photo: @iStock.com/Wavebreakmedia
"Sever's
disease
can be
found at
different
ages by
gender
because
of the
different
ages of
girls' and
boys'
growth
spurts."
• Redness or swelling in the heel