As sport specific training intensifies and children spend countless hours perfecting leaps, dismounts, running, or other high impact activities, over–use injuries become more prevalant. One such overuse, inflammatory condition is Sever's disease .

Sever's disease generally affects children between the ages of 10 and 14 years of age, which corresponds to the growth spurts associated with puberty. Take into consideration, that the foot is one of the first body parts to reach full size. Further, combine that with maturing leg bone growth and you now have tendons and muscles involved in a game of soft tissue catch up. The Achilles tendon (or heel cord) becomes tight and less flexible due to the increased tension to the insertion area located at the back of the calcaneous (heel bone). This area of insertion known as the calcaneal apophysis is still maturing and more prone to injury.

Symptoms

Sever's disease tends to mimic Achilles Tendonitis and shares similarities to Osgood–Schlatters disease of the knee. Symptoms include pain in one or both heels with running and weight–bearing exercise. Swelling and tenderness on the heel to the touch. Painful gait pattern (limping). A tendency to walk on tippy–toes to ease pain. Tight gastroc muscles in the morning.

Diagnosis

Physical Examination, x–rays (to rule out growth plate injury) and medical history.

Treatment

• * Rest or reduced weight bearing activities.
• * Apply ActiveWrap® Ice Wrap to target back of heels for 15' after any physical activity or long period of walking.
• * Over–the–counter Anti–Inflammatory Med's for severe pain (consult MD)
• * Stretching for upper and lower legs (hamstrings, gastroc, soleus etc.) 2–3 times daily.
• * Consider Orthotics.

Prevention

If your child has already recovered from Sever's, stretching and putting ActiveWrap on the heel after activity will help reduce the risk of your child getting this condition in the future. Continued stretching, consideration of orthotics, arch supports, heel cups are also very beneficial.