Home Sever’s Disease: Understanding Heel Pain in Growing Children

Sever’s Disease: Understanding Heel Pain in Growing Children

Saturday, 31st May 2025

Heel pain in children is a common concern—especially among those who are active and going through growth spurts. One of the most frequent causes of heel pain in kids is a condition known as Sever’s disease. While the name may sound alarming, it’s a manageable condition once properly understood and treated. In this post, we’ll explain what Sever’s disease is, why it happens, who’s at risk, and what steps can be taken to manage and prevent it.

What is Sever’s Disease?

Pain is a complex experience controlled by the nervous system and influenced by physical, psychological, and social factors. When your body becomes injured, specialized nerve endings called nociceptors detect potential harm and send signals to the spinal cord and brain. The brain then interprets and assesses these signals, deciding whether or not to produce the sensation of pain. However, this system is not always perfect. Pain can be amplified or persist even after an injury has healed, or it can occur in the absence of any injury at all. This is due to the over-protective nature of our body’s alarm system for pain.

Who is Most Affected?

Sever’s disease typically affects physically active children aged between 8 and 15 years old. It is more common in:

Boys aged 10–12 and Girls aged 8–10

Children going through puberty-related growth spurts

Kids involved in running, jumping, or impact sports such as soccer, basketball, and athletics

The condition is not caused by disease in the traditional sense but by overuse and mechanical stress during key developmental years.

Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

What Causes Sever’s Disease?

The main contributors to Sever’s disease include:

Overuse from high-impact sports
Tight Achilles tendons from rapid bone growth
Poorly fitting footwear that doesn’t support the heel properly

These factors can irritate the heel’s growth plate, especially when repetitive stress is applied without adequate recovery time

Common Symptoms

Signs that your child may have Sever’s disease include:

Heel pain, especially after sports or physical activity
Limping or walking on tiptoes to avoid pressure on the heel
Tenderness and swelling at the back of the heel
Increased discomfort with running, jumping, or climbing stairs

If your child regularly complains of heel pain after playing sports, it’s worth having them assessed by a healthcare professional.

How is Sever’s Disease Diagnosed?

Diagnosis typically involves a physical examination by a podiatrist or GP. In most cases, no imaging is needed, but occasionally an X-ray may be used to rule out fractures or other causes of heel pain.

Because this condition is common in growing children, an experienced podiatrist can often make a confident diagnosis based on symptoms and activity history.

Treatment and Management

Sever’s disease usually resolves on its own once growth slows down, but active treatment can ease symptoms and prevent recurrence. Management strategies include:

Pain relief with ice packs or over-the-counter anti-inflammatories
Reducing physical activity that causes pain
Stretching exercises for the calf muscles and Achilles tendon
Heel raises or supportive inserts to reduce stress on the heel
Custom orthotics, if foot structure contributes to the condition
Proper footwear that supports and cushions the heel
Modifying sports technique to reduce impact

How Can a PEAK Help?

If your child is experiencing heel pain, limping, or discomfort after physical activity, it could be a sign of Sever’s disease or another growth-related issue. Don’t wait for it to worsen—early assessment can make a big difference. If you need support managing your child’s foot health, our experienced podiatry team is here to help. Book an appointment or give us a call on 07 3399 3318.

Get started — Book an appointment today

Make an appointment

Believe

Thursday, 26th February 2026

The real race begins in your mind. by Nathan Denham, PEAK Coach and Physiotherapist

How Powerful Are You For a Golfer Your Age?

Thursday, 26th February 2026

Every golfer wants more distance to outdrive their golfing friends! But here’s the question most golfers never stop to ask: Is my body actually capable of...