If your child has started complaining of heel pain after football, netball, running, or dance training, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common reasons parents bring active kids into our clinic — and in the vast majority of cases, it has a name: Sever’s disease.
Despite the scary-sounding name, Sever’s disease isn’t actually a disease at all. It’s a growth-related overuse injury, and with the right management, it’s very treatable.
What Is Sever’s Disease?
Sever’s disease (medically known as calcaneal apophysitis) is inflammation at the growth plate of the heel bone (the calcaneus). Children’s bones grow from areas called growth plates, which are softer and more vulnerable to stress than mature bone. The Achilles tendon attaches right near this growth plate, and repetitive pulling from running and jumping can irritate it.
It typically affects children between 8 and 14 years old, during growth spurts, and is especially common in kids who play sports involving lots of running, jumping, or sudden stops and starts — think football, basketball, netball, athletics, and gymnastics.
Common Signs to Look Out For
• Heel pain that appears during or after sport, particularly running and jumping
• Pain in one or both heels
• Limping, walking on tiptoes, or reluctance to participate in sport
• Pain when the sides of the heel are squeezed
• Symptoms easing with rest and flaring up again with activity
Why Does It Happen?
A few factors tend to combine to cause Sever’s disease:
• Growth spurts – bone often grows faster than the surrounding muscles and tendons can keep up with, creating extra tension at the heel
• High-impact activity – repetitive running and jumping increases load on the growth plate
• Tight calf muscles – common in growing children and adds extra pull on the heel
• Poor footwear – shoes with little cushioning or support can increase impact through the heel
• Training load – playing multiple sports or increasing training intensity too quickly
What Can Be Done About It?
The good news is that Sever’s disease resolves on its own once a child finishes growing — but that can take a couple of years, so managing symptoms matters. Treatment usually focuses on reducing pain and keeping kids active safely, and may include:
• Activity modification, rather than complete rest, to manage load
• Stretching and strengthening exercises for the calf and foot
• Supportive, well-cushioned footwear
• Heel raises or orthotic inserts to reduce strain on the growth plate
• Ice and simple pain relief after activity
• A gradual return-to-sport plan
Every child is different, so a proper assessment helps identify contributing factors — such as foot posture, footwear, or training load — so we can tailor a plan rather than just telling kids to “rest and hope.”
When Should You See a Podiatrist?
It’s worth booking an assessment if your child has:
• Heel pain lasting more than 1-2 weeks
• Pain affecting how they walk or run
• Ongoing discomfort despite rest
• Pain that keeps returning each sports season
Left unmanaged, heel pain can lead to kids avoiding activity altogether or developing compensatory movement patterns. An early assessment means we can get your child back to doing what they love, comfortably and confidently.
If your child has been complaining about sore heels after sport, our team at Frenchs Forest Foot Clinic can help identify the cause and put together a simple, effective management plan. Get in touch to book an appointment today