Having a child who loves playing outside or playing sports is such a wonderful thing these days when so many children would rather sit in front of the television and play a video game. The only problem with this great activity is that children sometimes go home complaining about heel pain. Some parents think it is because of the shoes their children are wearing and others just assume their child is running improperly. In many cases, the reason is because of something called calcaneal apophysitis, sometimes called Sever's Disease. The good thing for you as a parent is that this can be treated and your child will grow out of it. The way Sever's Disease, or calcaneal apophysitis, works is that it is a disease of a growing bone. When your child's bones are growing and developing, there is a section on them that has not yet calcified. When children get to the stage in their lives when their bones fully begin to calcify, this section sometimes can get irritated because of pressure or tension. This is when your child will complain of heel pain. This typically occurs in girls between the ages of 9-14 and in boys between the ages of 9-16.
The one mistake that parents make when their children have Sever's Disease is they make them stop playing sports until it no longer is an issue. Because your child will grow out of calcaneal apophysitis, there is no reason to make them stop doing something they love and enjoy. If your child continues to complain about heel pain, it is best to see a foot specialist because they can help with alleviate the pain with treatments. If you have your child stop exercising during this period, your child could end up with a more serious medical issue such as obesity.
The reason the bones in the foot cause heel pain, and eventually Sever's Disease, is because the growth plate of the heel bone becomes tense from the Achilles tendon. This tension can end up causing stress and even swelling to the heel area. Many children are able to play through the pain while others see a specialist about their calcaneal apophysitis. Podiatrists can treat Sever's disease with anti-inflammatory medication, stretching exercises, orthotics (shoe inserts) and/or physical therapy. If your child's complains of heel pain, it is best to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist.
Copyright (c) 2009 Dr. Jennifer Feeny
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Dr. Jennifer Feeny is a board certified podiatrist practicing in southwest Virginia. As a concerned mother, she wrote this article to help other parents learn about their children's feet. To see more of what Dr. Feeny is saying, visit her blog, Blacksburg Foot Doctor, or website, Shenandoah Podiatry
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