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Pain in the Heel of a Child's Foot
Sever's Disease The
spontaneous development of pain in children generally indicates some
form of injury to the growth plate of a growing bone. This can occur
without a specific memorable event. When pain occurs in the heel of a
child the most likely cause is due to injury of the growth plate in the
heel bone. This is called Sever's disease. A condition that may mimic Sever's disease is Achilles tendonitis.
Achilles tendonitis is inflammation of the tendon attached to the back
of the heel. A tight Achilles tendon may contribute to Seiver's disease
by pulling excessively on the growth plate of the heel bone. This
condition is most common between the ages of 8 - 15 years of age and
boys tend to be affected more than girls. It is frequently seen in the
active soccer, football or baseball player. Sport shoes with cleats seem to aggravate the condition. It is believed that the condition is due to an underlying mechanical problem with the way the foot functions. Treatment Home treatment consists of calf muscle stretching exercises,
heel cushions in the shoes, and/or oral anti-inflammatory medications
like Tylenol or Advil. Icing the area may provide some temporary
relief. If the condition persists the child should be evaluated by a
podiatrist for abnormal foot function. In severe cases a below the knee
walking cast may be required. Treatment may require the use of
custom-made shoe inserts called orthotics. Orthotics work by correcting foot function and will fit into most normal shoes.
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