Severs Disease

What is Sever’s Disease?

Sever’s disease (calcaneal apophysitis) is a repetitious strain injury, occurring predominantly in active children aged 8-14. It can cause severe pain and swelling at the rear (anterior) of the heel around the growth plate where the bone has not yet fully developed and calcified.

Causes

Sever’s disease is caused by excessive and repetitive pulling of the Achilles tendon at its attachment point causing pain and inflammation in the growth plate. The Achilles tendon joins the calf muscle at the back of the leg to the heel bone. Growth plates are soft areas of cartilage where bone growth occurs. It typically occurs during a growth spurt. Sever’s disease can be aggravated by repetitious actions like running, jumping and side stepping in sports such as football, hockey, athletics, basketball, netball, tennis etc…

Symptoms

• Pain in one or both heels, especially during or after exercise

• Swelling at the rear of the heel

• Tight calf muscles

• Reduction in sporting performance

• Limping

Treatment

Over 10 years we identified that 80%-90% of children with acute and chronic Severs have a slight inward deviation of the calcaneus (heel bone). This creates an internal rotational action in the Tibia (shin bone) and calf muscle. This action increases tension in the Achilles tendon, in turn causing excessive stress and inflammation in the growth plate. This rolling in or deviation is often a genetic, hereditary condition.

If caught early Sever’s Disease can usually be controlled by rest, ice and physiotherapy.

We offer a comprehensive home treatment program for ongoing acute to chronic pain caused by Sever’s disease by addressing the prime source, the deviated heel. Kraedl Insoles will prevent the excessive “rolling in” (inversion) of the calcaneus thereby reducing tension in the Achilles. In conjunction with physiotherapy this allows the inflammation to settle and fibres to repair and strengthen.

Like Achilles tendinitis in adults, children cannot keep training/playing and cure Sever’s at the same time. Not addressing Severs early and correctly can have major repercussions on sporting performance in later life.

Once the pain and inflammation settles down Kraedl Insoles become preventative medicine until the growth plate calcifies at 15-16 years old. Kraedls are designed to comfortably fit School shoes, Sports shoes and football boots.