Sever’s Disease: A Common Condition in Growing Children
Growth plates are soft areas of cartilage located near the end of a bone, where most growth happens. Sever’s disease is a condition in which the growth plate in the back of the heel (calcaneus) becomes swollen and inflamed. It is the most common cause of heel pain in children.
Schedule an Appointment for Your Child
The pediatric orthopedic specialists at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s have the advanced skills and experience to treat orthopedic conditions in children, including Sever’s disease. To schedule an appointment, call 440-482-7464 or schedule a virtual visit.
Sever’s disease is a disorder of childhood. It most commonly occurs when a child is going through puberty and experiencing rapid growth of their bones, muscles and tendons. Because bones tend to grow faster than tendons, the Achilles tendon, which attaches the calf muscles to the back of the heel, can become tight. This pulls on and irritates the growth plate in the heel.
The condition can be worsened by repetitive activities and sports that pull on the tight muscles and tendons and cause further injury to the heel bone growth plate.
The condition most commonly affects:
Boys: 10 – 15 years old
Girls: 8 – 13 years old
By late adolescence, most growth plates have hardened into bone and the muscles and tendons have lengthened to match bone growth. Therefore, Sever’s disease is rare in older teens.
Symptoms of Sever’s Disease
Symptoms of Sever’s disease are usually worse during and immediately after activity and may include:
- Pain, swelling and tenderness around the heel(s).
- Limping or walking on tiptoes.
- Pain when the heel is squeezed on both sides.
- Foot stiffness upon waking.
Diagnosis & Treatment of Sever’s Disease
Children who are experiencing symptoms should be evaluated by a pediatric orthopedic specialist to confirm the diagnosis. Athough Sever’s disease can’t be seen on X-ray, imaging studies may be ordered to rule out other problems like fractures or tendon tears.
Treatment primarily consists of rest. Children will be advised to avoid strenuous activities that cause heel pain. Calf muscle stretches, icing, over-the-counter pain medications and compression bandages may also be recommended. Rarely, short-term casting or a medical boot may be prescribed to aid in healing.
With rest and appropriate treatment, Sever’s disease will usually get better within a few weeks or months. Once the pain is resolved, most children can return to their usual sports and activities.