Family Foot & Ankle Associates of Maryland provides comprehensive foot care at our convenient locations in Olney, Camp Springs, Clinton, Silver Spring, Kensington, Laurel, and Maple Lawn, MD. If you or your child is having heel pain, our skilled team of podiatrists can help with diagnosis and treatment.
Calcaneal Apophysitis or Sever's Disease is a painful inflammation of the heel bone's growth plate. This injury typically affects children between the ages of 8 and 14, because the heel bone is not fully developed until the age of 14. Sever's disease is most common in children involved in athletics, particularly basketball, track, soccer, and gymnastics. It is an overuse injury caused by repetitive stress on the growth plate at the back of the heel bone.
Growth plates are the areas of new bone growth on either end of a bone. They are made up of cartilage that is more flexible than bone, and the one at the back of the heel is sensitive to repeated running and pounding on hard surfaces like in athletics. This injury is also more likely if the child is obese or has another foot problem like a tight Achilles tendon or flat feet.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Calcaneal Apophysitis include:
- Pain at the back of the heel
- Difficulty jumping or running
- Walking on the toes or limping
- Pain when squeezing the heel
If your child is experiencing these symptoms it's likely due to inflammation of the heel growth plate. Don't hesitate to come see us for treatment!
Heel Pain Treatment in Olney, Camp Springs, Clinton, Silver Spring, Kensington, Laurel, and Maple Lawn, MD
When the heel growth plate is inflamed, your doctor will recommend stopping any activity that is causing pain and resting the foot. You can also ice the area to relieve pain. Physical therapy may be prescribed to make sure you're doing only the appropriate exercises to stretch and strengthen the foot.
Another recommendation will likely be orthotics to be worn in the shoes. Orthotics stabilize the bones in the foot to reduce the impact on the heel. Pain caused by calcaneal apophysitis is likely to return while the bone is still growing, but to prevent more pain you can maintain a healthy weight and wear appropriate and supportive shoes for athletics.
Family Foot & Ankle Associates of Maryland is here to help if your child is struggling with Sever's Disease. If you have heel pain in Olney, Camp Springs, Silver Spring, Kensington, Laurel, and Maple Lawn, MD, contact us for an appointment at 301-924-5044.