What is it?
Sever’s disease is a common condition that causes heel pain in growing children.
It most commonly occurs in children who are active and involved in sports that involve lots of running and jumping. However, it can also occur in less active children. It may affect one or both feet.
The repeated activity involved in activities such as running and jumping can cause a repetitive pulling force from the calf muscle where it attaches to the heel bone. This can cause inflammation and tenderness on the heel. Pain is usually worse during or just after activity and may cause the child to limp. Pain usually eases when the child rests.
Sever’s disease can be diagnosed from a clinical examination. Special testes such as X-rays are not usually required.
Who gets it?
Sever’s disease is most commonly occurs when a child is going through a period of rapid growth. During this time a child’s bones are growing quickly and the muscles and tendons also need to change to keep up with this boney growth.
What is the Natural History of Sever’s Disease?
It is normal for children with Sever’s disease to make a full recovery with no long term problems
What is the treatment for Sever’s Disease?
Treatment of Sever’s disease is aimed at reducing and managing the child’s symptoms and may involve:
- Ice, which can be helpful to reduce inflammation
- Activity modification, for example stopping or reducing the amount of an activity until the heel pain settles
- Shoe modification, such as wearing shoes with a slight heel elevation, or using heel raises within shoes
- Gentle calf stretches
It is normal for children with Sever’s disease to make a full recovery with no long term problems.