Can You Play Sports With Sever'S Disease?

Can You Play Sports With Sever
Limit running and high-impact activity to rest the heel and lessen the pain. Choose one running or jumping sport to play at a time. Substitute low-impact cross-training activities to maintain cardiovascular fitness.

Can you still play sports with Severs disease?

In Sever’s, X-rays are normal. Can my child keep participating in sports? Your child should not participate in their sport if he or she is seen limping during physical activity. They should rest from these activities and focus on icing and stretching.

Can you run with Sever’s?

How Is Sever’s Disease Treated? – A child with Sever’s disease needs to cut down or avoid all activities that cause pain. Walking and non-weight bearing exercises (like swimming) are usually OK. If your child has Sever’s disease, your health care provider may recommend doing some or all of these:

Put ice or a cold pack on the heel every 1–2 hours, for 15 minutes at a time. (Put a towel over the skin to protect it from the cold.) Give medicine for pain such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, or store brand) or acetaminophen (Tylenol or store brand). Follow the directions that come with the medicine for how much to give and how often to give it. Use heel gel cups or supportive shoe inserts to lower the stress on the heel. Wear shoes that are open in the back so the heel is not irritated. Use an elastic wrap or compression stocking to help with pain and swelling. Try physical therapy (PT) or a home exercise program given to you by the health care provider to help with stretching and strengthening. Wear a walking boot that limits the movement of the ankle/heel.

Sometimes a short leg cast is put on for about a week if:

Symptoms are severe. Symptoms don’t go away with a few weeks of rest and treatment.

How long does Sever’s disease usually last?

How long does Sever’s disease last? Typically 2-3 months. However, symptoms can last longer in some individuals and can recur over several years.

What happens if you don’t treat Sever’s disease?

Recovery –

Recovery from Sever’s disease is different for each patient. In most cases, it goes away on its own with rest, treatment, and time.
The pain may come back or get worse if your child tries to play through the pain or if they do not follow the treatment plan.
If your child has no more pain, they can slowly start doing more physical activities. They should still stretch before and after exercises to prevent Sever’s disease from coming back.

Can Sever’s disease cause permanent damage?

If your active school-age child complains of heel pain, you may chalk it up to ill-fitting shoes. But that may not be the whole story. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.

Can you train with Severs?

Training With Sever’s Disease Training with Sever’s disease means listening to your body. Here we explain how best to prioritise and manage your training to get the most out of it. If you have Sever’s disease then you will grow out of it. However, it is very important you manage your training and exercises until you do.

The aim of treating and managing Sever’s disease is to gradually increase the load going through the tendon at a rate at which it can cope.When normal daily activities can be done pain-free, training can be resumed. However, you may need to modify the type of exercise you do, to avoid, or at least reduce activities which increase pain.

Technical Running Socks

Any sport or training activity which places high loads through your Achilles tendon is likely to exacerbate your injury. This is likely to include:

RunningJumpingPlaying,Any sports which involve weight-bearing, high-impact, explosive activities.

It may be necessary to stick to swimming or cycling until the injury has completely cleared up. However, if changing your sport does not appeal, then this is what you can do:

Try to be more selective with training sessions.For example, a young footballer might take part in some of the high-quality technical practices, or team sessions, but avoid some of the fitness-related activities and substitute them for swimming or cycling.It is not ideal, but the main aim is to keep a player in a normal training routine as much as possible, whilst avoiding activities which increase heel pain.If this means training or playing just once a week and doing other non-weight-bearing activities for the rest of the week then so be it.

Keep a training diary. Make a note of all your training sessions and make daily notes on how bad your heel pain is.This should help you identify what makes it worse and how best to manage your training with Sever’s disease. You can keep a record of how much you can do before your heel becomes painful.Aim to build up slowly over many weeks without pain, rather than have a week on then two weeks off resting.This is also excellent information for your physio/doctor if you see one.

Applying to the heel on a regular basis after training or exercise.Doing this even if it is not painful may help reduce or prevent pain and inflammation from developing.

If pain allows gentle calf muscle stretching exercises should be done to maintain and improve flexibility. Assess your flexibility regularly (and add notes to your training diary).

One way to test if the calf muscles, the Gastrocnemius, in particular, are too tight is by gently pushing on the toes to stretch the calf muscles.The foot should go to 90 degrees without having to force it or apply great pressure.If the foot does not go to 90 degrees this may indicate tight muscles.repeat with your knee bent to test the deeper Soleus muscle.

Managing your training with Sever’s disease means listening to your body. Gentle stretching is OK. But if it is painful, or makes your heel pain worse then give it a miss until you are pain-free. Here are two stretches that are important when stretching the calf muscles.

Active will be the safest to use in the early stages of rehabilitation.It involves the patient pulling the foot and toes up gently to stretch the muscles at the back of the leg.Hold for 8 seconds, repeat 5 times.Repeat the stretch throughout the day if pain allows.

Gastrocnemius stretch – keep the heel of the back leg on the ground and gently push forward. If it is painful do not do it.This will stretch the larger Gastrocnemius muscle which originates above the knee joint.Hold for 10 seconds and repeat 3 times. Some therapists will recommend holding stretches for longer periods of up to 45 seconds.Repeat stretches with your knee bent to stretch the Soleus muscle.Remember that stretching is a long-term process.

A sprained wrist is an injury to any of the ligaments which connect bone to bone in the wrist. Wrist sprains are common in sports. Achilles tendontis is an overuse injury causing pain at the back of the ankle. If not caught early, it can be a difficult injury to Groin inflammation or adductor tendonitis occurs when the adductor muscles in the groin become inflamed or degenerate through overuse.

Symptoms of groin inflammation Symptoms include: A TFCC tear is an injury to the triangular fibrocartilage complex found in the wrist.
Either sudden trauma or overuse causes it.
Here we explain Achilles tendonitis heel drop exercises have proven to be very successful for chronic Achilles tendon pain.
The Hakan Alfredson’s heel drop protocol involves twice daily Gastrocnemius tendonitis is inflammation of the gastrocnemius tendon at the back of the knee.

It is most likely an overuse injury, more common in runners The PRICE principles are the gold standard set for treating sports injuries. The acronym stands for Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation and should be A calf strain is a tear to one or more of the muscles at the back of the lower leg.

Can a 15 year old have Severs disease?

Who gets Sever’s disease? – Sever’s disease most often affects children during adolescent growth spurts. In girls, growth spurts typically occur between the ages of 8 and 13. Boys typically have growth spurts when they’re between 10 and 15 years old. Sever’s disease is rare in older teens.

Does swimming help Severs?

How is Sever’s disease treated? – Your doctor or physiotherapist may recommend that your child does the following:

Temporarily stops doing activities that cause the heel pain. Uses ice packs to reduce the pain or swelling. Does calf stretches daily. Your physiotherapist can show you how to do these. Wears gel heel pads or cushions in their shoes. Wears comfortable shoes with good heel lift or arch support.

To ease the pain, children may need to cut down on sports that involve lots of jumping and running. These include:

basketball netball gymnastics Australian rules football athletics

They can usually continue with low-impact activities like swimming and cycling. Your child can get back to their normal activities after the pain eases. Sever’s disease can take between a few months and a few years to go away. Often it comes and goes, but there shouldn’t be any lasting problems. Sever’s disease is uncommon after the age of 15 years, when the heel bones have finished growing.

Is it OK to run with heel pain?

CAN I RUN? – The short answer is yes! In cases where the plantar fascia is just irritated, you can definitely continue to run. However, plantar fasciitis can become an ongoing problem if you aren’t careful. In the first few weeks, applying ice can be effective in reducing inflammation.

What makes Sever’s disease worse?

What are the clinical features? – Sever’s disease is painful over the calcaneal tuberosity at the insertion of the Achilles tendon. It is usually unilateral but can be bilateral in some cases although never symmetrical. The pain is made worse by sporting or high impact activities and can commonly cause pain after prolonged walking.

Is it OK to run with heel spurs?

Running with Heel Pain: Spurs and the Minimalist Trend Sometimes there’s nothing like around barefoot and enjoying the sensation of the floor or grass underneath your toes. Daisy, the sheltered but sweet protagonist in the new movie Barefoot, agrees.

She goes without shoes wherever she can, including some unconventional places. Real-life advocates of the barefoot life say that living shoeless is a more natural state and encourages foot strength. This argument has given rise to the popular minimalist running trend. Of course, this trend does have a few downsides, one being that it can lead to running with and developing spurs.

result when the plantar fasciitis is tightened and swollen, straining the heel bone. This encourages extra bone growth underneath it, creating a spur. Barefoot and minimalist runners seem to have chronic plantar fasciitis more often, so if you choose to switch to those styles, you need to be careful.

Working closely with experienced health specialists like those NorthPointe Foot & Ankle can help you avoid and relieve discomfort from running with heel pain.
Make sure you transition slowly from normal shoes to minimalist running gear.
Eep your early runs short and easy, and be prepared for sore legs.

You will most likely need time and training to adjust your gait to, If you already have heel pain or spurs, take time to rest and relieve the inflammation. Make sure you ice, massage, and stretch out your soles regularly. Low-impact activities can help you stay active without adding strain to your lower limbs.

Once your heels have recovered, you can ease back into running. You may need physical therapy or special training to help you adjust your gait so that it’s better suited to minimalist running. If you struggle with running with heel pain, but want to be able to enjoy the sport, don’t give up. Contact NorthPointe Foot & Ankle for an appointment or more information to see how we can help relieve your discomfort and set your feet right or call our Berkley office at (248) 545-0100 to reach us.

: Running with Heel Pain: Spurs and the Minimalist Trend

Can you play soccer with Severs?

Athletes with Sever’s disease are typically aged 9 to 13 years and participate in running or jumping sports such as soccer, football, basketball, baseball, and gymnastics. The typical complaint is heel pain that develops slowly and occurs with activity.

What is Sever’s disease in 17 year old?

What is Sever’s disease? – Sever’s disease, medically referred to as calcaneal apophysitis, is one of the most common causes of heel pain in children and young adolescents. Sever’s disease occurs from inflammation of the growth plate in the heel. Growth plates are areas of cartilage mostly found near the ends of your bones.

They are areas of new bone growth in children and teens and when your body becomes fully grown, these growth plates close, forming solid bone.
They are weaker than your regular bones, so they can get injured much more easily.
Sever’s disease most commonly occurs in children between 8-12 years of age, however can be seen in adolescents up to 16/17 years old.

Once the growth plate in the heel finishes growing and becomes solid, then the child or teen will not experience Sever’s pain again.

How painful is Sever’s?

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Sever’s Disease

What is Sever’s disease? This is a syndrome of heel pain in skeletally immature individuals. The formal name is: calcaneal apophysitis. The pain is thought to arise from the growth plate (apophysis) and epiphysis. How does it develop? It is thought to be an overuse phenomena. Overloading of the apophysis by both traction (due to Achilles tendon) and compression (due to weight bearing) have been implicated.

Children and adolescents who are in a growth spurt
Kids aged 5-13 years old
Boys are more likely to be affected than girls.
60% of patients have both heels involved.

What are the symptoms? Chief complaint is heel pain which increases pain during running and jumping activities. Pain is localized to the very posterior aspect of the heel. Pain is elicited only with weightbearing. Mild involvement is present if pain is brought on only with running during sports.

The symptoms can be severe, with pain (and possibly limp) with activities of daily living (i.e. walking). Which sports are the most problematic? Soccer, baseball, and basketball. Are x-rays important? Yes, they can help rule out fractures, infections and tumors. There is no pathognomonic finding for Sever’s disease.

Fragmentationan sclerosis (increased density) of the calcalneal apophysis is a normal finding. What are the treatment options?

Activity Modification: to decrease the pain, limiting sporting activities is essential. Cutting back on the duration, intensity, and frequency can significantly improve symptoms.
Heel cord stretching is important if heel cord tightness is present.
Heel cushions/cups or soft orthotics decreases the impact on the calcaneus by distributing and cushioning the weight bearing of the heel.
Use of NSAIDS. Ibuprofen (Nuprin, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) can decrease pain and secondary swelling.
Ice. Placing cold or ice packs onto the painful heel can alleviate pain.
Short-leg cast. For recalcitrant symptoms a short-leg cast is occasionally used to force rest the heel.

How long does Sever’s disease last? Typically 2-3 months. However, symptoms can last longer in some individuals and can recur over several years. Are there any long-term problems associated with Sever’s? To date, no problems have been identified after Sever’s disease has resolved.

Does Sever’s disease mean you will be tall?

Long-term pain warrants early ID – By Katie Bell Children presenting with calcaneal apophysitis (Sever disease) are anthropometrically different from their peers and experience a lengthy period of pain, according to Australian study findings that underscore the importance of early intervention and a holistic management approach in this patient population.

I think this study highlights the importance of looking at the entire child, not just their foot,” said study author Alicia James, BPod, MHealth Sci, director of the Kingston Foot Clinic in Cheltenham, Australia. The researchers set out to identify any association between the pain experienced from Sever disease, anthropometric data, and lower limb measurements.

The cross-sectional study, which was part of a wider randomized comparative efficacy trial, enrolled 124 children (72 boys) with Sever disease aged between 8 and 14 years. Measures of height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), foot posture, and ankle joint range of motion were recorded and compared with normative values.

Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale. “While the growth plate remains open, monitoring and treatment will assist in pain relief.” — Alicia James, BPod, MHealth Sci Compared with normative values, children with Sever disease were taller, heavier, and had a higher mean BMI. Sever disease was also associated with a higher foot posture index, indicative of greater pronation, and greater ankle joint range of motion compared with normative values.

The foot and ankle findings are more likely to be contributing factors than compensatory factors, James said. The finding of increased ankle range of motion contrasts with a 2011 study and contradicts the theory that passive tension in the gastrocnemius-soleus complex contributes to Sever disease in taller children.

Instead, James and colleagues hypothesized, it may be that the physiology of the apophysis in taller children may increase its vulnerability to the stresses involved in physical activity. “I believe this finding has the greatest influence on our treatment regimes when considering previous literature,” James said.

Joanna Conway, BSc Podiatry, SRCh, MChs, Senior Podiatrist at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham, UK, noted though foot and ankle variables can contribute to Sever disease, the possibility of compensatory foot and ankle issues should not be overlooked.

“The pain of calcaneal apophysitis can cause further problems, such as a limp on the affected side. This will further alter the child’s gait as they try to avoid the pain, and this can cause further musculoskeletal and biomechanical issues,” Conway said. The study, which was epublished in May by the Journal of Pediatrics, also found older participants and those who had experienced longer durations of pain reported higher levels of pain severity.

“This study for me has highlighted the duration of pain these children can endure. The mean length of time the children experienced pain before they contacted us for the study was ten months, and we found pain increased as the child increased in age. I believe this encourages intervention at presentation,” James said.

We must explain to parents that, while the growth plate remains open, monitoring and treatment will assist in pain relief.
Once the growth plate has closed, and only then, complete pain resolution will be achieved.” Conway agreed that early intervention is essential.
In children where it is undiagnosed over a long period of time, I have seen the condition worsen, and often activity levels decrease, which can be difficult for a child who is involved in team sports,” she said.

How rare is Sever’s disease?

How common is Sever’s disease? – Sever’s disease is extremely common. It is one of the most prevalent reasons for heel pain in kids aged eight to 14.

Is Severs an overuse injury?

Continuing Education Activity – Sever disease, or calcaneal apophysitis, is an overuse injury in young athletes that causes heel pain. This overuse injury is thought to be caused by a traction apophysitis at the heel, correlating with the Achilles tendon insertion site.

It presents in children and adolescents undergoing a rapid growth spurt or who take part in sports involving running and jumping.
The pain classically resolves on rest or periods of inactivity.
The disease has a self-limited course and management includes activity modification or relative rest as guided by pain.

Symptoms may be managed with anti-inflammatory medications, ice, heel cups or heel lifts, and in severe cases, immobilization. This activity describes the evaluation and management of Sever’s disease and explains the role of the interprofessional team in improving care for patients with this condition.

Review the presentation of a patient with Sever disease. Describe the pathophysiology of Sever disease. Summarize the treatment options for Sever disease. Outline the importance of collaboration and communication among the interprofessional team members in rehabilitating the affected patient using heel cord stretching and strengthening that will improve symptoms in those with Sever disease.

Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.

Does rest help Severs?

Sever’s disease (also known as calcaneal apophysitis) is one of the most common causes of heel pain in growing children, especially children who are very physically active. It is an inflammation of the growth plate in the calcaneus (heel). Sever’s disease is caused by repetitive stress to the heel.

Children and adolescents who participate in athletics — especially running and jumping sports — are at an increased risk for this condition. However, less active adolescents may also experience this problem, especially if they wear very flat shoes.

In most cases of Sever’s disease, simple measures like rest, over-the-counter medication, and a change in footwear will relieve pain and allow a return to daily activities. In addition, stretching the calf muscles may help decrease the stress on the heel.

The bones of children and adolescents possess a special area where the bone is growing called the growth plate. Growth plates are areas of cartilage located near the ends of bones. When a child is fully grown, the growth plates close and are replaced by solid bone. Until this occurs, the growth plates are weaker than the nearby tendons and ligaments and are vulnerable to trauma.

Sever’s disease affects the part of the growth plate at the back of the heel. This growth area serves as the attachment point for the Achilles tendon — the strong band of tissue that connects the calf muscles at the back of the leg to the heel bone. Repetitive stress from running, jumping, and other high-impact activities can cause pain and inflammation in this growth area of the heel.

Additional stress from the pulling of the Achilles tendon at its attachment point can sometimes further irritate the area. Painful symptoms are often brought on by running, jumping, and other sports-related activities. In some cases, both heels have symptoms, although one heel may be worse than the other.

Severs Heel Pain | The Awful pain that Stops Kids Playing Sport | How to Fix it!

Symptoms may include:

Heel pain and tenderness underneath the heel Mild swelling at the heel

During the appointment, your child’s doctor will:

Discuss your child’s symptoms and general health. Conduct a thorough examination of the foot and ankle to determine the cause of the pain. This will include applying pressure to the heel bone on both the bottom of the bone and along the sides, which should be tender or painful for a child with Sever’s disease. Possibly ask your child to walk, run, jump, or walk on their heels to see if the movements bring on painful symptoms.

Treatment for Sever’s disease focuses on reducing pain and swelling. This typically requires limiting exercise activity until your child can enjoy activity without discomfort or significant pain afterwards. In some cases, rest from activity is required for several months, followed by a strength conditioning program.

Heel pads. Heel cushions inserted in sports shoes can help absorb impact and relieve stress on the heel and ankle. Wearing shoes with a slightly elevated heel. Elevating the heel may relieve some of the pressure on the growth plate. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen can help reduce pain and swelling. Exercises. Exercises can help to stretch the calf muscle and strengthen the leg muscles once pain has decreased.

In cases where the pain is bad enough to interfere with walking, a “walker boot” might be required to immobilize the foot while it heals. It is not unusual for Sever’s disease to recur. This typically happens when a child once again increases sports activities.

What activities should you avoid with Sever’s disease?

The pain can get worse with physical activity such as running or jumping and sometimes causes limping or walking on the toes. It usually feels better with rest. It may take several weeks or months for the pain to completely stop. In most cases Severs disease goes away on its own with a little rest and time.

Should you stretch with Severs?

How Can Calcaneal Apophysitis Be Prevented? – Perform a proper warm-up before starting any activity. Ten minutes of light jogging, cycling, or calisthenics before practice will increase circulation to cold muscles, making them more pliable so that they put less stress and tension on their attachment sites (apophyses).

Have your child wear shoes that fit properly. The heel portion of the shoe should not be too tight, and there should be good padding in the heel. Stretch tight calf muscles several times a day. It is better to stretch after exercise than before exercise. Hold each stretch for 30 seconds. Don’t bounce. Do not play through pain.

Pain is a sign of injury, stress, or overuse. Rest is required to allow time for the injured area to heal. If pain does not resolve after a couple of days of rest, consult your physician. The sooner an injury is identified, the sooner proper treatment can begin.

Do ice baths help Severs?

Rehabilitation Methods – When I say we tried everything I mean everything. From massages to stretching and doctors appointments to ice packs, I could tell you a list of rehabilitation methods I tried with my boys. Rest: The most effective and simple treatment to ease the pains of Sever’s is simply rest – if your child is very active with sports or training, they will need to make sure they cut down the amount and intensity that they’re doing, and make sure to get a good night’s sleep every day.

During periods of particular pain resting the heel or heels on a soft ice pack can alleviate some of the soreness. Ice Baths: Attempting to convince a 13 year old to stay more than 2 seconds in a bath full of ice is trying, to say the least I tried this with my boys and it did ease some of the muscle pain.

However if they are adamantly against the full blown bath, again the are a quick and easy way to ease pain and potential swelling. Stretching: Stretching is beneficial for muscles to recover after a training session or high intensity activity in general, but particularly for those with Sever’s Disease, as the tendons and muscles around the growth plate are already over extended and tight.

This can be done in the mornings when the heels might feel especially tight or sore or directly after any activity that can cause friction against the tender cartilage.
Massages : Simple at home massages done by you or your child themselves can ease pain and increase blood flow, targeting the fatigued and sore muscles which have been tight and cramped supporting the growth plate area.

In extreme cases there are that can perform these massages or show you what to do. None of this is to say you shouldn’t check with a doctor first or as well as trying these measures – we tried everything. I took my boys to both a podiatrist and a chiropractor when searching for diagnosis and treatment.

Is it bad to play sports with plantar fasciitis?

Can You Play Sports With Sever Sports mix well with many things: socializing, parties, being outdoors, having fun, and more. Unfortunately, sports don’t mix with everything—and some mixtures can be incredibly painful. That’s often the case when you try to play your favorite sport with plantar fasciitis,

Sports and heel pain don’t mix well.
However, with the right care, you can still enjoy your favorite activities.
Plantar fasciitis is a common overuse injury,
Too much pressure and strain on the plantar fascia overstretches it.
The tissue becomes irritated, swells, and thickens.
Sometimes microtears develop in the ligament as well.

The problem is the repetitive hard impacts and overwork that happen frequently in sports not only cause the initial damage, but compound the problem. So the more you play on your hurting heels without treating them, the worse you make them. Playing sports will only become increasingly uncomfortable for you.

Eventually, the pain may prevent you from being able to enjoy your favorite activities altogether.
That said, while sports and plantar fasciitis don’t really mix, developing heel pain doesn’t mean you have to kiss your favorite activities goodbye forever.
With the right heel pain care, you can get back out to the field or court, and play your best without worrying about your heels holding you back.

The important thing will be getting the plantar fasciitis diagnosed and treated. Some of this foot care may include:

Resting – That’s right, scaling back your activities or taking a short time off can help you heal. Wearing better shoes – Supportive athletic footwear helps cushion hard impacts and improve biomechanics, reducing the stress on your heels. Getting orthotics for sports – If shoes are not enough, custom orthotics can add extra padding and better stability for your feet when you’re active. Additional therapies – Physical therapy exercises and additional therapies like EPAT may help improve painful heels faster so you can be active again.

While you may still be able to continue playing sports for a while with untreated plantar fasciitis, the two really don’t mix. The long-term consequences won’t be worth it. Instead, take a short break and get your heels the care they need. Our experts at Absolute Foot Care Specialists understand your love of sports and will help you get back in the game as quickly as possible,

Can you still play sports with tendonitis?

Can I Still Play Basketball With Tendonitis? – Athletes can usually continue activity if their tendonitis symptoms are mild. However, it’s important to be cautious when exercising with an injury. The longer you ignore symptoms and try to push through the pain, the more severe your injury may become.

What makes Sever’s disease worse?

Is Sever’s disease a disability?

Marcio Luis Duarte, Regret for the inconvenience: we are taking measures to prevent fraudulent form submissions by extractors and page crawlers. Please type the correct Captcha word to see email ID. Bruno Fernandes Barros Brehme de Abreu, Maura Harumi Ito, Maria Gabriela Varandas Costa, Jose Luiz Masson de Almeida Prado, Marcelo de Queiroz Pereira da Silva – Radiology, Webimagem, Sao Paulo, Brazil Correspondence: Márcio Luís Duarte, Webimagem, Avenida Marquês de São Vicente 446, São Paulo, Brazil Received: November 24, 2017 | Published: April 19, 2018 Citation: Duarte ML, Abreu BFBB, Ito MH, et al.

Bilateral sever’s disease–an uncommon finding.
J Pediatr Neonatal Care.2018;8(2):110-111.
DOI: 10.15406/jpnc.2018.08.00320 Download PDF Calcaneal apophysitis is a common cause of heel pain in children and is also known as Sever´s disease.
Rarely causes important disability and is transient in most of the times, but it can interfere with walking and physical performance in sports, causing concern to the patient and parents.

It is the most common cause of heel pain in the physically active growing children–8-25 years-old–and is considered a benign, self-limiting condition of childhood and adolescence. Boys constitute two-thirds of the patients and the sport that tends to dominate is soccer.

The diagnosis of calcaneal apophysitis is usually made with a typical history and physical examination. Pain with activity, especially running and jumping, and a positive “squeeze test”: pain is produced by medial and lateral compression of the heel where the calcaneal apophysis attaches to the main body of the calcaneus.

Children with Sever’s disease don´t have growth disturbances in the calcaneal apophysis or any vary in bone density compatible with a necrotic or a repair process. Children with Sever’s disorder respond variably, poorly, or not at all to anti-inflammatory drugs.

Heel cup fixating the heel pad provided better pain relief in young boys with Sever’s injury compared with the traditional heel wedge. Keywords: calcaneus/diagnostic imaging, calcaneus/pathology, child MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging Calcaneal apophysitis is a common cause of heel pain in children and is also known as Sever´s disease.1, 2 Rarely causes important disability and is transient in most of the times, but it can interfere with walking and physical performance in sports, causing concern to the patient and parents.1 It is the most common cause of heel pain in the physically active growing children–8-25 years-old–and is considered a benign, self-limiting condition of childhood and adolescence.2 –4 Boys constitute two-thirds of the patients and the sport that tends to dominate is soccer.5 Sever´s disease is a chronic (repetitive) injury to the actively remodeling trabecular metaphysical bone that results in a variably sized stress injury with concomitant trabecular micro failure, hemorrhage, and edema, which is evident on MRI.4 8 years-old boy with pain in the heel of both feet for three months.

The pain started when they started to play basketball. Deny traumas and surgeries. Indicates pain at local palpation and walking. MRI demonstrated irregularity of calcaneal apophysis with important edema, corresponding to Sever’s disease, with discrete edema of surrounding subcutaneous tissue, in both feet ( Figure 1 ) ( Figure 2 ). Figure 1 Sagittal MRI of the right foot in T2 SPIR sequence in A and T1 sequence in B demonstrating irregularity of calcaneal apophysis with important edema, corresponding to Sever’s disease (blue arrow). Figure 2 Sagittal MRI of the left foot in T2 SPIR sequence in A and T1 sequence in B demonstrating irregularity of calcaneal apophysis with important edema, corresponding to Sever’s disease (blue arrow). The diagnosis of calcaneal apophysitis is usually made with a typical history and physical examination.2 Pain with activity, especially running and jumping, and a positive “squeeze test”: pain is produced by medial and lateral compression of the heel where the calcaneal apophysis attaches to the main body of the calcaneus.3, 5 Foot x-rays are performed as part of the clinical evaluation in routine orthopedic practice.2 Increased density and fragmentation of the calcaneal apophysis are the two radiologic signs that are postulated to be noticeable differences between the radiographs of children with calcaneal apophysitis compared with their asymptomatic counterparts.2 However, density of the calcaneal apophysis cannot be used as a pathognomic finding.2 Fragmentation should not be misinterpreted as an abnormality; rather, it should be accepted as a normal variant.2, 5 Furthermore, x-ray can be normal in Sever´s disease.4 X-rays can be used to rule out other causes of heel pain in children such as a bone cyst, osteoid osteoma, stress fractures or tarsal coalition.2, 3, 6 Lateral radiographs alone are sufficient to rule out other pathology and additional orthogonal views are unnecessary for screening purposes, thereby reducing radiation exposure and cost.3 MRI will show edematous changes within the calcaneal apophysis, possibly extending into the adjacent calcaneal tuberosity.6 Moreover, in equivocal cases, MRI can be helpful in rule out other diseases of heel pain.6 Children with Sever’s disease don´t have growth disturbances in the calcaneal apophysis or any vary in bone density compatible with a necrotic or a repair process.1 Children with Sever’s disorder respond variably, poorly, or not at all to anti-inflammatory drugs.4 Heel cup fixating the heel pad provided better pain relief in young boys with Sever’s injury compared with the traditional heel wedge.5 Not applicable The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

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