- Does your child complain of pain in the back of their heel/s?
- Are they between the ages of 9 and 14 and have recently gone through a growth spurt?
- They could be suffering from Severes Disease.
Why Does This Happen?
Severes Disease is a condition where the growth plate located at the back of the heel becomes inflamed and painful. Affecting mostly children and adolescents, this condition typically presents during or after a growth spurt in those who are physically active. During the growth spurt the calf muscles and Achilles tendon can’t keep up and therefore become tight. As a result of the added pressure and pull this causes the tendon insertion to fray resulting in inflammation and pain.
What Does it Feel Like?
- Pain at the back of one or often both heels
- Increase in pain with running, jumping or walking
- Feels better with rest
- Back area of the heel is tender to touch and/or swollen
- Possible palpable lump on back of heel
What can treatment include?
- Thorough musculoskeletal assessment
- Manual therapy including soft tissue release, mobilisations and ice therapy
- Muscle strengthening
- Improvement of motor control
- Advice and Education re appropriate timing for return to sport and ongoing management plan to reduce the likelihood of recurrence
- Taping
- Comprehensive home exercise program
- Orthotic prescription if necessary
What you can expect?
Following treatment symptom relief can be felt immediately, however depending on how different factors of the condition are addressed, most patients will make a full recovery.
If this sounds like what your child has been experiencing, make an appointment today and let us help get them back on track.