07/06/2026
Heel pain in your child? It could be Sever’s Disease — now more accurately called Calcaneal Apophysitis.
Despite the name, it’s not a disease — it’s an overuse injury at the heel’s growth plate, most common in active kids aged 8–14. During a growth spurt, bones grow faster than tendons. The Achilles pulls on that developing growth plate with every run, jump and kick. Over time, that adds up.
What triggers it:
Rapid growth spurts, high training loads, hard surfaces, and poor footwear support.
How we treat it:
Calf stretching, load management, custom orthotics or heel raises, footwear review, and a return-to-sport plan. Most children recover fully — we just need a strategy.
If your child is limping off the pitch, don’t wait.
