How Do I Treat a Child's Heel Pain?

Children's heel pain is often caused by a condition known as Sever's disease, sometimes called calcaneal apophysitis. Sever's disease is caused by an inflammation of the growth plate in a growing child's foot, which is the area of cartilage between the two bones at the back of the heel. Typically, Sever's disease is seen in children around the ages of 10 to 14, with some children more prone to it than others. According to Foot Pain Explained, it is probably caused by overuse or overstress of the foot in sports, especially on hard surfaces.

Instructions

Treating Sever's Disease

• 1

  Treat Sever's disease by alleviating pain as much as possible. There is no way to cure it, other than waiting for the child to go through the growth cycle and outgrow it. But you can help the child deal with the pain.

• 2

  Change your child's athletic shoes to a type with a raised heel to reduce pressure on your child's heel. Replace athletic shoes when the heels start to wear out. Don't let your child walk barefoot until the pain is gone, not even around the house. Have him wear flip-flops or other shoes at all times. Put a soft gel insert inside your child's shoes to soften pressure when the heel steps down on the ground; this may also relieve tension on the Achilles tendon.

• 3

  Cut back on your child's athletic activity. If the pain is great enough, or if your child has been suffering from it for an extended period of time, he may need to cease all sports and physical education completely for a while. The more your child walks or runs on the affected heel, the more pain he will experience. Especially avoid those sports that involve pressure or jumping on the heel, such as distance running and basketball.

• 4

  Have your child stretch his calves and Achilles tendons several times a day. Have him place his foot flat on the ground and lean forward against a wall. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds at a time, and make sure to stretch both legs even if the Sever's disease is only present in one heel.

• 5

  Ice your child's heel to alleviate pain. Take over-the-counter pain relievers to provide some relief.

• 6

  See your doctor for X-rays and advice. Use orthotic aids if your doctor prescribes them. Use an elastic bandage to help stabilize the foot and limit the range of motion, especially if your child is continuing with any sports. In extreme cases, your child's foot may even need to be put in a cast for a few weeks.