Overview of Sever’s Disease treatment in Dallas, Plano & Texas

Sever's Disease, also known as calcaneal apophysitis, is a disease of the growth plate of the bone and is characterized by pain in the heel of a child's foot, typically brought on by some form of injury or trauma. This condition is most common in children ages 10 to 15 and is frequently seen in active soccer, football, or baseball players. Sport shoes with cleats are also known to aggravate the condition. 

Sever’s disease also commonly called growing pains in the heels, can be a lot more serious than it sounds. It is in actual fact not a disease at all but an injury that occurs in the child’s heel which can be associated with a growth spur. Sever’s disease is categorized by inflammation of the growth plate in the calcaneus where the Achilles tendon/calf insert.

It is a medical condition that causes heel pain in children’s feet while they’re growing. Sever's disease occurs most commonly in boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 14.

This forces the child to bear weight on their toes while walking. When a toe gait develops, the child must change the way they walk to avoid placing weight on the painful heel. If this is not properly addressed, this can lead to further developmental problems.

The most common symptom of Sever's disease is acute pain felt in the heel when a child engages in physical activity such as walking, jumping, or running. Children who are active athletes are among the group most susceptible to experiencing Sever's disease. This is due to the extreme stress and tension placed on their growing feet.

The most common signs and symptoms of Sever’s Disease are:-

·         Pain the heel

·         Limping

·         Tight calf muscles

·         Heel swelling and redness

·         Decreased ankle range of motion

·         Heel pain that is worse during or after activity

A child with Sever's disease should also wear shoes that properly support the heel and the arch of the foot. Consider purchasing orthotic shoe inserts which can help support the heel and foot while it is healing. 

Sever's disease may affect either one heel or both. It is important for a child experiencing heel pain to be examined by a foot doctor who can apply the squeeze test. The squeeze test compresses both sides of the heel in order to determine if there is intense pain. Discourage any child diagnosed with Sever's disease from going barefoot as this can intensify the problem.

When foot curling, the foot is pointed away from the body, then curled toward the body to help stretch the muscles. The curling exercise should be done in sets of 10 or 20 repetitions and repeated several times throughout the day.

Get familiar with the signs of Sever’s disease in your child, and always consult a professional for a proper diagnosis:

·         Swelling and redness of the heel

·         Limping or your child walking on the top of their toes

·         Pain when squeezing either side of the heel

 

Treatment of Sever’s disease

There are have some treatment of sever’s disease.

They are

Avoiding hard surfaces

Kids need as much shock absorbency as possible when recovering from Sever’s disease.

Stretching, strengthening, and good flexibility

To reduce the stress on your child’s heel, ensure they’re stretching regularly and strengthening their body. It’s especially important to be stretching calves and hamstrings on both legs, and is effective in reducing the pain from Sever’s disease. Make sure your child is stretching daily.

Heel cups and insoles

You can add heel cups and insoles to assist the support of your kid’s shoes. This can be useful for kids who’ve experienced sore heels for an increased amount of time, but they should always be wearing supportive shoes, too.

 

Treatment Reference