Help Your Growing Athlete Get Back on Their Feet
Heel and ankle pain can quickly change how an active child moves. Running may become uncomfortable, jumping can hurt, and a young athlete may start limping or avoiding the activities they usually enjoy. One common cause during periods of growth is Sever’s disease. At Meier & Marsh Physical Therapy, our physical therapists address Sever’s disease in West Valley City, Tooele in Northpointe, Tooele on Main Street and Grantsville, UT by determining what is placing excessive stress on the painful heel, identifying physical findings that may be contributing, and prescribing treatment based on the child’s current activity demands.
What Is Sever’s Disease?
Sever’s disease, also called calcaneal apophysitis, is irritation of the growth area at the back of the heel bone. It typically affects growing children and adolescents, particularly those involved in activities with frequent running and jumping.
The Achilles tendon and calf muscles place repeated pulling forces on this developing area. Sports activity can increase those demands, especially when a young athlete is growing quickly or has recently increased training.
Despite its name, Sever’s disease is not an illness or infection. It is a growth-related musculoskeletal condition that generally becomes less of an issue once the heel’s growth area matures.
Determining Why the Heel Is Struggling with Activity
Knowing that a child has Sever’s disease is only the beginning. We want to understand which movements trigger symptoms, how much activity the heel currently tolerates, and whether strength or mobility findings are adding to the demands placed on it.
These findings give treatment direction. A soccer player who develops heel pain after repeated sprinting may require different activity adjustments and progression than a gymnast whose symptoms increase with repeated jumping and landing.
A condition-specific examination may include:
- Location and behavior of heel pain
- Tenderness around the heel
- Ankle mobility
- Calf flexibility
- Foot and ankle strength
- Hip and leg strength
- Walking and running
- Single-leg balance and control
- Jumping and landing when appropriate
- Footwear used for sports and daily activities
- Recent changes in training or competition
Reducing Irritation Without Putting Childhood on Hold
Complete rest is not automatically necessary for every child with Sever’s disease. Instead, our physical therapists consider which activities are aggravating the heel and how symptoms respond during and after participation.
A young athlete may temporarily need fewer running drills, shorter practices, or changes to high-impact activities. Another child may tolerate most of their sport but need to reduce the specific movements that repeatedly increase symptoms.
This approach helps protect the irritated growth area while keeping the child appropriately active. We explain the reasoning to both the athlete and family so activity decisions are based on the child’s response rather than fear of using the foot.
Improving Mobility When the Calf and Ankle Are Limited
During periods of growth, the muscles and tendons around the ankle may temporarily feel tighter as the bones lengthen. Limited calf flexibility or ankle mobility can change the way a child absorbs force during walking, running, and landing.
When the examination identifies a relevant restriction, treatment may include specific calf stretching and ankle mobility exercises. We measure whether those changes improve the movements that matter rather than assuming every child with heel pain needs more flexibility.
Strengthening the Foot and Leg for Sports
Running and jumping require the foot, ankle, calf, knee, and hip to repeatedly manage force. If weakness or reduced control is identified during the examination, strengthening becomes part of preparing the child for those demands.
Treatment may progress from controlled calf and leg strengthening to single-leg tasks, faster movements, running, jumping, and landing. The exercises become more sport-specific as the heel tolerates greater activity.
Deciding Whether Heel Cups or Footwear Changes May Help
Some children feel more comfortable with temporary heel cushioning or a small heel lift that reduces stress on the painful area. Footwear may also matter if the child’s current shoes provide inadequate support or are poorly suited to the activity.
Our physical therapists can help families determine whether a footwear change or heel support has a useful role. These options are considered alongside activity management and exercise rather than used as a substitute for addressing the physical demands contributing to symptoms.
Building Back to Running, Jumping, and Competition
Walking without discomfort is different from being ready for a full practice. A young athlete returning to soccer, basketball, dance, track, or another high-impact activity needs to tolerate progressively greater forces through the heel.
We increase those demands as the child improves and reassess how the heel responds. Comfortable running, repeated jumping, landing, acceleration, and sport-specific drills can provide more useful information about readiness than symptoms during normal walking alone.
Clinical Expertise for a Growth-Related Problem
Sever’s disease occurs in growing children, so treatment should account for both development and athletic demands. At Meier & Marsh Physical Therapy, our physical therapists use clinical expertise to distinguish the expected presentation of Sever’s disease from ankle and heel symptoms that may require a different treatment approach or medical evaluation.
We also help young athletes understand why their heel hurts and what they can safely do about it. Clear education, precise treatment, and measurable progression give families a practical plan for getting the child back to normal activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Your Young Athlete Moving Again
Heel pain can be frustrating when a child wants to run, practice, and play. With a detailed assessment, the focus shifts from simply resting the painful heel to identifying what the child can tolerate now and what needs to improve for a successful return to activity.
Bring your child’s heel or ankle pain to Meier & Marsh Physical Therapy in West Valley City, Tooele in Northpointe, Tooele on Main Street and Grantsville, UT. Our physical therapists can determine what is limiting your young athlete and provide individualized treatment aimed at improving movement and getting them back to doing what they love.
Your Next Steps…
- Request An Appointment
- Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
- Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
- Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free
