{"id":5545,"date":"2019-04-18T06:00:32","date_gmt":"2019-04-18T06:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=5545"},"modified":"2021-04-29T16:55:05","modified_gmt":"2021-04-29T16:55:05","slug":"14-signs-of-severs-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-signs-of-severs-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Signs of Sever’s Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sever\u2019s disease gets its name from James Sever who was an American doctor and described the condition first in the year 1912. Sever\u2019s disease is also called calcaneal apophysitis. Sever\u2019s disease is a common condition among children and typically occurs in children ages five to twelve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This disease occurs during growth spurts, which often occur between the ages of 8 to ten for girls and between the ages of ten to twelve in boys. When a child starts a new sporting season, sever\u2019s disease is more likely to occur as the child puts more pressure on their heels during these times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pain from severs disease is located in the heel and while it can be quite painful it does not cause any lasting effects. There are several signs that your child may be suffering from Sever\u2019s disease. Here are 8 things to look for if your child is having issues with their feet. The Iliotibial Band is the longest\/largest tendon attaching the Tensor Fascilata\u00a0to the most proximal lateral aspect of the Tibia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Pain in Heels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The number one symptom of Sever\u2019s disease is a pain <\/a>in the heel. This pain may occur in just one of the heels or a child may feel pain in both of their heels. The pain may be quite severe and cause the child to complain that their feet hurt and they may not want to walk or participate in their regular daily activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pain may last for as long as a few months. The good news is that this disease does not cause any long term issues with the feet. The best remedy is to let your child rest and not force them to do any activities that they are not comfortable doing. They may need to take a break from their regular sports for a short amount of time in order to give their heels the chance to continue growing and for the pain to subside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Swelling in the Heels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, sever\u2019s disease may cause the heels to swell. This swelling <\/a>can occur at any time and may show up for a little while and go away and then come back. The swelling is often accompanied by severe pain. Your child will likely not want to put any pressure on their heels. If the child is experiencing pain and swelling in their heels and they are younger than the age of 15, there is a good chance that they are suffering from sever\u2019s disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resting the feet as much as possible is the best thing that they can do. Using ice on a regular basis can also help to reduce the swelling. Anti-inflammatory medication may also help to reduce the swelling and ease some of the pain that they are experiencing. Once again, if they participate in sports, taking a break from it for a bit is often recommended. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Redness <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another sign that your child may be suffering from sever\u2019s disease is if their heels become red. This redness <\/a>is often accompanied by the pain and swelling that is also caused by this ailment. The heels will become inflamed, which may cause them to appear red in color. If your child is complaining of heel pain and the heels are swollen and red, sever disease is the likely culprit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resting the heels as much as possible and taking a break from any sport that they are currently participating in is recommended. Ice can help to reduce the inflammation and should be used intermittently during the time that the heels are red. NSAIDs can also be given to the child in order to reduce the swelling and inflammation in the heels. This treatment can provide the child with some relief from the pain for periods of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Tenderness and Tightness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A child that is suffering from sever\u2019s disease may complain about tightness <\/a>in the back of their foot. The heel may also be quite tender to the touch. When the heel is squeezed it can make it feel even worse. Putting the heel on the ground may cause the child to experience pain. If your child has a tenderness in the heel that is accompanied by some of the other symptoms on this list, there is a good chance that they are suffering from sever\u2019s disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to allow your child to rest as much as possible during this time. This can help alleviate some of the pain as the heel is growing and stretching. Ice and over the counter pain relievers can also help with some of the pain that the child is experiencing. Stretching the leg and the foot is also a good way to help reduce the tightness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Exercise-Induced Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sever\u2019s disease causes pain throughout the heel. This pain may be experienced at any time, but is often most noticeable when a child is running, jumping, or doing other types of exercise <\/a>that require a lot of pressure on the heels. The child may have pain right after exercising. This pain may then subside after they have rested for a while. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pain can be really bad when a child starts a new sports season as they are likely putting more pressure on the heel than they had previously. Wearing shoes that are hard and stiff, such as soccer cleats, can also cause the child to experience more pain. It is important to make sure that you purchase shoes that are comfortable and have a little bit of giving for the child to wear when they are participating in sports. Good quality shoes along with proper rest can go a long way in helping with the pain associated with sever\u2019s disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Difficulty Walking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When a child is suffering from sever\u2019s disease they may have difficulty walking. The reason for this is because they have pain in their heels, which makes it hard to walk on the bottom of their feet. If the heels have become swollen, it can be even more difficult for the child to walk. When this occurs it is best to let them rest as much as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An ice pack on the affected area can help to reduce the swelling and can help to ease some of the pain that the child may be having in their heels. Applying an ice pack for fifteen minutes at a time every couple of hours is often recommended. In addition, over the counter medication <\/a>can be given to help ease some of the pain as well. Typically, the pain and difficulty walking will subside for periods of time and then return. This can happen for a few months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Limping and Walking on Toes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another sign that a child may be suffering from sever\u2019s disease is if they start to limp <\/a>when they are walking or running around. They may also start to walk on their toes. The reason for this is because putting pressure on the heels when they run or walk can cause them to experience pain. They walk on their toes so that their heels do not touch the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can help them to get around without as much pain. However, walking on the toes can cause other issues to occur and the best thing that they can do is to limit their movements as much as possible. If they are involved in an impact sport, they should take a break from it for at least a short amount of time. This will allow the heels the time that they need to heal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Treatment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to severing disease, the good news is that it will not cause any foot problems over the long term. The best possible treatment for the condition is simply rested. Your child needs to cut down or stop playing sports altogether until the pain subsides. When they are well enough to return to the sport it is important to make sure that they take things slowly at the start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, a doctor may recommend that your child take ibuprofen <\/a>or naproxen to help ease the pain. Shoes that have extra support in the heel may also help to ease some of the pain as they will reduce the amount of stress on the heel. In some more severe cases of the condition, a doctor may recommend physical therapy or strengthening exercises and stretches to help with the pain. In the most severe cases, a child may need to wear a cast to force the heel to rest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Tendonitis
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the affected child\u2019s heel bone continues to grow, the ligaments in the feet don\u2019t have a chance to catch up to the growth rate. As a result, the child may begin to notice the onset of tendonitis in several ligaments throughout the foot.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Achilles tendon running from the heel to the bottom of the calve muscle is mostly affected. When Severs disease starts to increase the length of the heel bone, it places stress on the Achilles. As a result, the patient may begin to find that they feel a tugging sensation or pain in the back of the heel, migrating toward the calve muscle.\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients with tendonitis <\/a>need to rest from physical activity to reduce the chances of the ligament tearing, resulting in a severe injury. Treat tendonitis with ice, rest, compression, and elevation until the symptoms start to clear. In some cases, tendonitis can last for months, so it\u2019s best to treat it in its early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. Plantar Fasciitis
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This condition is an uncomfortable and painful form of tendonitis affecting the plantar fascia<\/a>. The plantar fascia is a ligament that stretches from your toes to the heel. This thick band of fibrous tissue acts as a shock absorber for your feet, reducing the impact of foot-strike on the heel and ankle.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the plantar fascia becomes inflamed, the repetitive stress starts to cause micro-tears in the ligament tissue. As a result, these tears leave scar tissue, and the patient begins to notice swelling and inflammation in the sole of the affected foot.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s rare for plantar fasciitis to occur in both feet, but it does happen. Plantar fasciitis can result in extreme heel pain as well. Patients dealing with the condition should seek physiotherapy treatment as soon as possible to prevent the disorder from becoming chronic. The chronic form of plantar fasciitis is very challenging to cure, and the patient may have to live with the effects of the tendonitis for the rest of their life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11. Heel Bursitis
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The bursa is small, fluid-filled sacs in the joints throughout the body., The heel has bursa on the rear of the heel bone. The bursa provides a lubricating action to the joint that prevents premature wearing of the cartilage separating the bones in the joints.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a person experiences the onset of bursitis, these sacs swell, producing bumps on the back of the heel. These bumps may be painful and lead to heel pain as they place pressure <\/a>on the joint. Most cases of bursitis go away on their own and leave no lasting damage.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the patient needs to rest and recover from the inflammation, or they risk the bursa turning into a solid mass, which can produce numerous structural issues with the foot, knee, and hips. Patients should ice the affected area down and elevate the ankle to reduce swelling. Avoid wearing shoes while you recover, as they may irritate the bursa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. Withdrawal from Social Sports Activities
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Children who are dealing with the effects of Severs disease find that persistent heel pain makes it difficult to play sports and other physical activities with their classmates at school. After all, its taught to enjoy yourself when every step you take leads to a shooting pain driving up from your heels.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the pain symptoms<\/a>, children who are dealing with Severs disease may start to withdraw from social activities that require some level of physical interaction. The child may favor sedentary activities, such as reading, playing video games, or watching TV.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s essential for parents to stimulate their child\u2019s interests and give them constructive ways to spend their time away from the sports field. Children eventually grow out of Severs disease in their mid-teens. However, by this time they have missed out on the crucial development years of their youth.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, many teens with Severs disease may develop issues with obesity due to their lack of activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

13. Pain When Standing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n


Children who are handling the onset of Severs disease may find that they develop heel pain when standing for extended periods. Standing places stress on the ankles, heel bone, plantar fascia, and Achilles tendon.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children who are dealing with Severs disease find that they develop severe heel pain when standing around. When standing, the heel places pressure on the heel pad. The elongated bone protrudes into the heel pad, pushing through the protective fatty layer on the bottom of the foot, resulting in pain symptoms.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children experiencing this type of heel pain can benefit from fitment with a set of customized orthotic inserts for their shoes. These inserts absorb the pressure, reducing pain symptoms. Speak to your podiatrist <\/a>about a set of orthotics to stop your heel pain.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wearing the orthotics every day improves the child\u2019s quality of life and allows them to play with their friends, to a certain extent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

14. Risk Factors
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Severs disease has a list of risk factors that make it more likely to affect specific individuals than others. It\u2019s important to note that the condition only affects children and adolescents, with adults at no risk of developing the disease.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Boys are the highest risk group, as they typically deal with growth spurts after the age of 9-years old. the most common age group in boys for the development of Severs disease<\/a> is between the ages of 9 and 15\u2014years.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Girls also get Severs disease, but less frequently than boys. Girls do not experience the same growth spurts as boys. Therefore, the condition typically occurs in girls between the ages of 8 and 13-years old. Girls may take longer to notice symptoms as well unless they participate in sports.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no known cure for the condition, but it typically resolves itself as the child reaches maturity in the later teens.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\r\n

<\/div>