Dental Care

What is Severs Disease

Severs disease is a problem of the growing foot that most commonly affects those around the ages of 10-15 years of age. It is an overuse type injury and is more common in active children. Calcaneal apophysitis is the technical term for this problem. Pain is usually felt at the back of the heel.

When we are born the heel bone is largely cartilage and the bone is starting to develop in the middle of the cartilage, A separate piece of bone develops at the back of the cartilage where the Achilles tendon inserts into the heel bone. So the heel bone consists of two growing pieces of bone with some cartilage in between them. This is normal and how growth occurs. By age fifteen or so the two pieces of one fuse together to create the one bone.

Up to the age of fifteen it is possible to strain the small piece of cartilage between the pieces of bone, resulting in something to a stress fracture. This is common in active children, in children with tight calf muscles and in children with flat or pronated feet. Sports like soccer are also common, as the grounds can be quite hard at the start of the season.

Severs disease treatment usually consists of some sort of modified rest to cut back on the level of sport played; the use of heel raises to cushion the heel; and foot orthotics to correct foot alignment. Sometime strapping or tape is used.

If anyone thinks they may have severs disease, then health professional advice should be sort.