One of the most common causes of heel pain in children is apophysitis or Sever's injury. The injury is caused by overuse and appears after a lot of exercise and by incorrectly loading the foot over a long period of time. Children aged between 8 and 15 years are most affected by this inflammation. At that age, children grow a lot and the combination of rapid growth and overuse can lead to apophysitis. It is the growth zones of the heel bone that are stressed and development is disrupted, resulting in pain as a symptom. The pain can come on suddenly and is often in the back of the heel bone. The injury heals on its own, but it can take up to a year.
If your child has suffered from apophysitis, you should see a doctor to confirm the injury. Afterwards, you will be advised to try an orthopaedic footbed for your child. This is to reduce the pain but also to speed up the healing process. Orthopaedic surgeons first make a mould of the child's foot after mapping the movement pattern. They then create an insert that can be used in any type of footwear. The child can move and engage in their leisure activities as usual and as before the injury. The heel may still hurt after the insert is in place in the shoe but it should not be painful. Other things you can do yourself that can help are resting and stretching the foot.
To prevent these types of problems, it is important to have good shoes and soles. Many children and young people today wear shoes with flat soles. This means that the foot does not get the support or stability it needs, which can cause pain. The inflammation can be better felt with an ankle support that runs along the back of the heel. It also provides warmth, which can feel good in cases of pain and inflammation. Because the support is thin, it fits easily into the shoe. Special socks that strengthen and support the heel may also be an option. Specialised socks are a type of open-toe compression sock that is worn over the foot. These socks are available in different colours and patterns so the child can choose.
