Managing Sever’s
Youth Return to Sport: Managing Sever’s
If your child is super active and has ever complained of heel pain, it is less likely that they have achilles tendinopathy and more likely that they have a condition called Sever’s. The good news is that this will eventually go away, and there is a lot that can be done to alleviate it. The bad news is that if your child or adolescent is extremely active, it may re-occur until they have finished growing.
Sever’s disease, also known as calcaneal apophysitis, is a common cause of heel pain in children and adolescents. It is caused by inflammation of the growth plate at the back of the heel, and is typically seen in young athletes who participate in activities such as running, jumping, or soccer.
The management of Sever’s disease typically involves a combination of physiotherapy and other interventions. Some specific treatment options that may be recommended by a physiotherapist include:
- Rest: It is important for the individual to take a break from activities that exacerbate their symptoms, such as running or jumping.
- Ice: Applying ice to the affected area can help to reduce inflammation and numb pain.
- Stretching and strengthening exercises: Physiotherapy exercises can help to stretch tight muscles and improve the strength and stability of the foot and ankle.
- Taping or bracing: Using a tape or brace to provide support to the heel can help to reduce stress on the growth plate and alleviate symptoms.
- Orthotics: In some cases, an orthotic device such as an insole or arch support may be recommended to help improve foot and leg alignment and reduce strain on the growth plate.
When I’m working with a client with Sever’s I do an in depth analysis of how they are squatting, planting, pushing off, in addition to their ankle, leg and gluteal length and strength to see how we can address imbalances and improve biomechanics to reduce forces that are causing the irritation. Then I create a plan that is completely customized to the youth and their goals and of course, we make it fun!
