Items filtered by date: May 2025
Sever’s Disease and Your Active Child
Sever’s disease affects the growth plate in the heel, most often during periods of rapid growth in active children. It typically appears in boys aged 10 to 12 and girls aged eight to 10, especially those involved in sports that include running or jumping. Sever’s disease occurs when tight tendons in the lower leg pull on the heel bone, causing irritation and pain at the back of the foot. Children with this ailment may walk with a limp, complain of pain during or after activity, or tiptoe to avoid heel pressure. Such pain usually increases with physical activity and may be present in one or both heels. A chiropodist can examine the affected heel and identify tenderness around the growth plate. They may recommend treatments to reduce stress on the heel, such as orthotics or footwear adjustments, and help manage the condition while the foot continues to grow. If your child complains of heel pain after activities, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a chiropodist for advice.
Sever’s disease typically affects young children and teenagers. If your child complains of foot pain, please consult with Emily Yu, B.Sc from Uptown Foot Care Clinic. Our specialist will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
What Is Sever’s Disease?
Sever’s disease, also known as calcaneal apophysitis, is an inflammation of the growth plate in the heel bone. It is typically caused by overuse due to repetitive activities such as running, jumping, and playing certain sports. This condition most frequently affects children between the ages of 8 and 14.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Sever’s disease include:
Pain in the back or bottom of the heel
Pain when the sides of the heel are squeezed
Limping or walking on tiptoes to avoid putting pressure on the heel
Difficulty running, jumping, or participating in usual activities
Fatigue
Diagnosis
Sever’s disease is diagnosed by taking a thorough medical history and performing a physical examination. Imaging studies, such as an X-ray, can help rule out other injuries like a fracture.
Treatment
Sever’s disease typically heals without any long-term complications. Treatment involves resting the affected foot by reducing typical activities, wearing orthotics to support the foot, immobilizing the affected foot, taking medications to reduce pain and inflammation, and stretching the foot.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Common Foot Injuries in Runners
Running is a high-impact activity that often leads to injuries involving the feet and ankles. Repetitive stress is a leading cause of foot injuries, contributing to conditions like plantar fasciitis, which causes heel pain due to inflammation in the tissue along the bottom of the foot. Achilles tendinitis is also common, often caused by increased training intensity, and felt as soreness above the heel. Stress fractures, especially in the toes and heel, develop from overuse and can cause persistent pain that worsens with activity. Shin splints and ankle sprains may result from sudden changes in running volume or uneven surfaces. Even issues like ingrown toenails and bursitis may arise from friction and repeated pressure when running. A chiropodist can assess your running-related injury, provide custom orthotics or footwear advice, and guide you in preventing recurrence. If you have sustained an injury from running, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a chiropodist for guidance.
Although running is a wonderful exercise to keep you in shape, it can wreak havoc on your feet and ankles if you don’t take preventive measures. If you have sustained a foot and ankle injury from running, please consult with Emily Yu, B.Sc from Uptown Foot Care Clinic. Our specialist can help you maintain the health of your lower limbs and your mobility.
Some common running injuries include:
Achilles tendonitis
Shin splints
Ankle sprains
Stress fractures
Plantar fasciitis
Bursitis
What causes injuries?
These injuries are usually caused by overtraining, wearing the wrong shoes, running on hard surfaces, having tight and inflexible muscles, or having biomechanical issues in the feet or ankles.
What can I do to prevent injuries?
Train slowly and gradually
Give yourself plenty of time to recover following a run
Wear shoes that fit properly and support your foot
Avoid running on hard surfaces, like concrete
Stretch and strengthen the muscles of your lower legs
Warm-up prior to a run
Have your gait analyzed and your feet examined by a chiropodist to determine if there are any biomechanical problems that need to be treated
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
