Calcaneal Apophysitis (Sever’s Disease)

Calcaneal apophysitis also known as Sever’s disease sounds serious, but it’s actually a common hiccup in the growing lives of active kids, typically striking between the ages of 8 to 12. During those pesky growth spurts and periods of higher levels of activity, this area gets inflamed, resulting in this condition.

If your child or young athlete complains about heel pain that seems to flare up after soccer practice or during a game of tag, calcaneal apophysitis might be the culprit. This pain often hangs out at the back or bottom of the heel and could come with a side of swelling or tenderness. The good news? It’s not as daunting as it sounds….. It just needs some help while it’s fusing.

We see kids with calcaneal apophysitis every day and once we have a thorough look through a child’s footwear, running/ walking mechanics and training load we can isolate what are the major aggravates and develop a plan to give the child relief without stopping the sport/activity that they love!

  • Calcaneal apophysitis, is a painful inflammation of the heel's growth plate. It's most commonly found in children and adolescents undergoing growth spurts who are active in sports that put stress on the heel through running and jumping.

  • The main symptom is pain at the back of the heel, which worsens with physical activity and improves with rest. Other symptoms can include swelling, redness, and tenderness in the heel, and in some cases, children may walk on their toes or develop a limp to avoid putting pressure on the heel.

  • The condition is caused by repetitive stress and strain on the heel's growth plate, typically from sports and activities that involve a lot of running and jumping. The growth plate is less resilient to stress because it's not yet fully developed.

  • The duration of the condition varies, Mostly around 18 months to 2 years but symptoms generally resolve with the completion of the growth spurt when the growth plates harden, which is around the time adolescence ends.

  • Once we have a thorough look through a child’s footwear, strength, mobility, running/ walking mechanics and training load we can isolate what are the major aggravants and develop a plan to give the child relief without stopping the sport/activity that they love! Symptoms reduce considerably in a few weeks and they can go on playing sport.