Sever's Disease
Do you have a young family member or know of someone who has been experiencing heel pain and stiffness around the time of their growth spurts? They might have Sever’s disease – read below to find out
What is Sever's Disease?
Sever’s Disease, also called calcaneal apophysitis, is a common cause of heel pain in active growing children. Whilst the name might sound serious, Sever’s disease is a highly manageable condition that effects the musculoskeletal system rather than being an actual disease. The pain results from the achilles tendon pulling on the growth plate of the heel which causes inflammation. It usually occurs during the growth phase of adolescence, with peak incidence rates occurring between 8 – 10 years old for girls, and 10 – 12 years old for boys.
Signs and symptoms
As a parent you may notice one or more signs and symptoms if your child is developing Sever’s disease. These may include:
- Limping or an awkward/unusual walking or running pattern
- Your child complaining of pain in one or both heels that increases with weight-bearing and physical activity, or when moving after a period of rest
- Limited ankle movement
- Redness at the back of the heel
- Discomfort wearing certain shoes due to pressure on the heel
- Difficulty participating in physical activities or sports
Sever’s disease is frequently diagnosed based on history and symptoms and your physiotherapist will perform some other tests to confirm during your consult.
How can physiotherapy help?
Your physiotherapist will be an integral part of your child’s treatment as they will be able to quickly diagnose Sever’s disease based on a brief history and some simple tests. Your physiotherapist will also consider the severity of your child’s Sever’s disease and any contributing factors that need to be addressed with individualised treatment.
Some of the key treatments your physiotherapist may use include:
- Massage to tight muscles such as the calf, hamstrings and quadriceps
- Thorough advice around the appropriate amount of activity to allow for the symptoms to settle and to reduce the risk of reoccurrence
- Advice around self-management options such as icing the painful area
- Assessment of footwear or prescription or orthotics
- Exercises to help with mobility, strength and pain relief
- Taping to offload the painful area during physical activity
Your physiotherapist is also well positioned to discuss any preventative strategies that are appropriate if your child has experienced Sever’s disease in the past.
If you suspect your child may be developing Sever’s disease or heel pain then book an appointment with us so that we can assess and treat their symptoms and guide them through their recovery. Call the practice on 03 6237 0045 to book an assessment today!
Written by Erin Jeffrey (MPhysio, BAppSc, APAM)