Sever’s disease, or calcaneal apophysitis, is the swelling of the heel that grows painful over time. It happens during a child’s growth spurt where the heel bone grows faster than the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the leg. This phenomenon leads to tightness, swelling, and pain that can be felt by the child. If not treated immediately, this injury can lead your child to have trouble walking and doing other activities.

This heel injury is most common among active children. Jumping on hard surfaces or the repetitive force placed in the heel can cause Sever’s disease. This can be felt by boys ages 10 to 15 and girls ages 8 to 13.

At Wellness Health Acupuncture & Physical Therapy, we offer physical therapy and acupuncture that can help alleviate the pain in your child’s heel. Our licensed therapists can help your son or daughter ease his or her pain through stretching and strength exercises. Depending on their situation, they may also be offered supportive shoes that will reduce stress in the heel bone.

If your child is having pain in his or her heel, schedule an appointment with us immediately.