Heel Pain in Children: Identifying Causes and Providing Age-Appropriate Treatment

Heel pain is common, but proper diagnosis and prompt treatment from Dr. James Hurst of Centreville Foot & Ankle & Sports Medicine can help. If your child comes to you with complaints of heel pain in Centreville, VA, tenderness in the back of the foot or ankle, or is limping or walking on their toes, they may have an injury.

Heel and foot injuries can develop gradually over time and are usually the result of overuse. Many children are involved in competitive sports with rigorous training schedules. Overuse injuries are common but can usually be helped with conservative measures of treatment.

Causes of Children’s Heel Pain in Centreville, VA

During a growth spurt, your child's heel bone grows faster than the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in their leg. The heel is one of a child's first body parts to reach full adult size. When the muscles and tendons can't grow fast enough to keep up, they can get stretched too tight.

If your child is very active, especially if they play a sport that involves a lot of running and jumping on hard surfaces such as soccer, basketball, or gymnastics it can put extra strain on their already overstretched tendons, which leads to swelling and pain at the point where the tendons attach to the growing part of their heel.

Treating Heel Pain

When you first notice heel pain, getting rest is going to prevent injury and reduce stress on the heel. Your child will need to stop or cut down on sports until the pain gets better. When they're well enough to return to their sport, they build up their playing time gradually. Your doctor may also recommend the following treatments:

• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Ice packs
• Supportive shoes and inserts that reduce stress on the heel bone. These can help if your child has another foot problem that aggravates severe disease, such as flat feet or high arches.
• Stretching and strengthening exercises
• A cast

For more information about heel pain treatment in Centreville, VA, call Dr. Hurst of Centreville Foot & Ankle & Sports Medicine at (703) 830-3338 to schedule an appointment.