Growing Pain In The Heels And Knees In Children

By Author: Ken Borst
Total Articles: 3
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There are common diseases that children and adolescents may have. Sever’s Disease is one of them. It has many symptoms such as mild swelling, heel pain and difficulty in walking. It usually happens when a child is having a growth spurt; therefore it is known as a growing pain. Sever’s is not just like any other disease that has to be treated, but it is more of a common condition that happens in a certain period of one’s life, therefore it has no treatment, but there are helpful methods available to limit the pain of Sever’s.


Sever’s Disease occurs when the calcaneus bone, which is the largest bone in the foot, becomes inflamed because of a growth spurt. This inflammation is caused by the stress and strain between the growth plate and the rest of the bones of the foot. There are many reasons why Sever’s happens including tight tendons of the lower limb and the rapid growth of the foot. This pattern is seen in adolescents most of the time. Ill-fitting footwear and repeated injuries to the foot can also cause Sever’s Disease to develop. Not only does Sever’s affect the heels, it ...
... can also affect other parts of the body such as the elbows, knees or hips.


There are many diseases similar to Sever’s disease. They share many similar symptoms, but there are key differences among them. One similar condition is Plantar Fasciitis, which usually affects adults. This heel pain is different from Sever’s disease in that Plantar Fasciitis usually results from over pronation, which occurs due to the foot’s rolling in toward the instep of the foot thereby aggravating the bones and fascia of the foot. Pain usually occurs when an adult first gets on their feet after a period of rest. However, it goes away after walking a little bit. Sever’s Disease happens mostly to children and adolescents between 9 and 15 years old. Pain is worse with use, unlike Plantar Fasciitis. Although Sever’s disease is a periodic condition that comes only to children and adolescents who are going through their growth spurt, continued pressure may cause long term consequences. However, the condition does goes away after the targeted part is completely grown. It usually takes from two to eight weeks to have complete growth.


As stated before, Sever’s Disease doesn’t have a clinical treatment. However, there are ways to make the growth of the foot more flexible and comfortable. An ice pack can bring relief to the foot if applied five to ten minutes each day. Wearing properly fitted shoes is also a very important factor in treating Sever’s. Shoes must have shock absorbing midsoles to prevent the heels from being exposed to any kind of hard hits. Giving heels time to rest will help them recover and grow fast. Stretching exercises also help reduce the pain cause by the disease.


When there is a mechanical deformity in the bones of the foot, orthotics is the best solution. It brings balance to the targeted foot and helps it grow efficiently. Supportive orthotics support and cushion the heel when it is exposed to excessive strain or stress.


DocPods offers the Ultra Soft Orthotics which is the best solution to Sever’s Disease. It is helps bring relief to the targeted heel. Visit docpods.com for more information on these and other orthotics created for yours and your family’s foot care needs.