Common foot conditions in our pediatric patients part 1:

I am going to start a blog that will detail common causes of pain in children.  This will be a 5 part blog series, the series will include the the following topics;

• Calcaleal Apophysitis (Sever's Disease)
• Flatfeet (Pes Planovalgus
• Bunions (Metatarsus Primus Varus)
• Ingrown Nails
• Warts

Calcaneal Apophysitis (Sever's Disease)

Apophysitis is a common condition that afflicts children usually between the ages of 8 to 14 years old.  Often this is confused with plantar fasciitis which is rare in children.  This is a condition of inflammation of the heel's growth plates. 

Pain usually occurs in the heel from repetitive stress on the growth plate resulting in inflammation.  Exercise, especially cleated activities like soccer and lacrosse can precipitate this pain. 

• The above x-ray show fragmentation and sclerosis of the heel often seen with apophysitis.

We treat children with foot and ankle deformities and have established protocols to deal with heel pain.  Most children respond well to stretching exercises and prescription orthotics, Orthotic Rx Center.