Sever’s Disease in Young Athletes: What Parents Need to Know
If your child has started complaining about heel pain that gets worse during sport and better with rest, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with Sever’s disease — one of the most common causes of heel pain in active kids aged 8 to 15.
Despite the name, it’s not actually a disease, and it’s not serious. But it does need to be managed properly, or it tends to drag on and keep interrupting sport participation.
What Is Sever’s Disease?
Sever’s disease (calcaneal apophysitis) is an irritation of the growth plate at the back of the heel. It happens when the Achilles tendon — which is attached to the heel — pulls repeatedly on a section of bone that is still developing and hasn’t yet fully hardened.
During growth spurts, bones often lengthen faster than the muscles and tendons that surround them. This creates increased tension on the growth plate, and when you add the repetitive impact of running and jumping, it becomes inflamed and painful.
Who Gets It?
Sever’s disease is most common in:
- Kids aged 8–15, particularly during or after a growth spurt
- Active children participating in running and jumping sports — football, soccer, netball, basketball, athletics
- Kids who train frequently or have recently increased their training load
- Those who play on hard surfaces (turf, courts, concrete)
It affects boys slightly more than girls, though this gap has narrowed as girls’ participation in sport has increased.
What Does It Feel Like?
The classic presentation is heel pain that:
- Is worse during or after sport
- Improves with rest
- Is tender when you squeeze the sides of the heel
- May cause your child to walk on their toes or limp after training
Pain that wakes your child at night, significant swelling, or pain that isn’t related to activity should be assessed to rule out other causes.
How Is It Treated?
The good news: Sever’s disease is self-limiting, meaning it will resolve once growth is complete. The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms, maintain fitness where possible, and get your child back to full participation as quickly as is appropriate.
Treatment typically involves:
Load management — Not necessarily complete rest, but modifying training volume and surface to reduce the irritation on the heel. A physiotherapist can help you work out what’s safe to keep doing and what to scale back.
Calf and Achilles stretching — Tight calf muscles increase the tension on the Achilles, which directly increases stress on the growth plate. Regular stretching is one of the most effective interventions.
Strengthening — Progressive calf strengthening (including heel raises) helps manage load through the tendon and growth plate. This is the longer-term fix, not just a symptom manager.
Footwear review — Worn-out boots or shoes with poor heel cushioning can significantly worsen symptoms. Sometimes a simple footwear change makes a noticeable difference.
Heel raises or orthotics — A small heel lift inside the shoe can reduce tension on the Achilles temporarily. This isn’t a fix, but it can help during the acute phase.
Ice and pain management — Post-activity ice can help settle symptoms in the short term.
Does My Child Need to Stop Playing Sport?
Not necessarily — and in many cases, complete rest is not the right answer. Sport participation is often continued with modified loads, appropriate footwear, and a structured management plan. The decision depends on the severity of symptoms, the stage of the season, and what your child’s overall training looks like.
What we don’t recommend is pushing through severe pain without any plan in place. That tends to extend the timeline significantly and can erode a young athlete’s confidence in their body.
When Should You See a Physio?
If your child has had heel pain for more than a week or two that isn’t settling, is affecting their ability to participate in sport, or keeps recurring, it’s worth getting it properly assessed.
At Movement Rx in Kippa-Ring, we work with junior athletes from across the Redcliffe Peninsula — including kids from local football, soccer, netball, and basketball clubs. We’ll assess what’s going on, give you a clear plan, and help your child manage their symptoms without unnecessarily missing more sport than they have to.
Find out more about our junior athlete physiotherapy services, or book an assessment online.