The Massapequa Soccer Club has been a longstanding source of physical fitness for the children of this town. Unfortunately, activity can sometimes result in a sports injury, or aggravate heel pain caused by Sever’s disease—a foot condition that affects growing children. The good news is that the pain caused by this problem is not long-lasting, and there are things you can do to help your child get through it.
Sever’s disease is always a concern for children going through a growth spurt, and it gets even more prevalent in young athletes. It occurs when the heel’s growth plate becomes inflamed due to stress put upon it. Your child may describe the pain as “like a bruise.” It usually gets worse with activity and may feel better with rest. Since the growth plate in the heel is affected, your child might notice greater pain when wearing cleats as they offer little to no cushioning in that area. Fortunately, once your child is finished growing and the bones have fused together the pain will disappear once and for all. In the meantime, it’s all about easing children’s discomfort.
No parent likes to sideline their kid, but unfortunately that is one of the only options when it comes to Sever’s disease. The best thing you can do for your child is to have them rest and stop the activity that is causing the pain. If you have trouble keeping your kids down, consider something with less of an impact, such as cycling or swimming. There are several different exercises and stretches they can do as well. Focusing on the hamstrings, calves, the Achilles tendon, and the heel cord can make an immense difference in the amount of pain they feel. When they are able to perform these stretches and walk or jog without pain they can resume their normal activity.
For more information on treating Sever’s disease pain call Dr. Mark Gasparini at (516) 804-9038 to schedule an appointment in our Massapequa, NY office.
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