Heel Pain in Children

from Our City Weston: June 2023

Broward County Celebrates the Naval Services

By Dr. Carlo A. Messina

Does your son or daughter complain of heel pain daily, especially during or after activity? Do they remember any traumatic event or did the pain just occur? If this sounds like your child, there is a high probability that they have Calcaneal Apophysitis (or Sever’s Disease). This is actually a condition and not a disease. This occurs when the growth plate (apophysis) located at the bottom and back of the heel (the portion of the bone that allows growth) becomes painfully inflamed. Although plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the ligament that supports the arch) is the most common cause of heel pain in adults, it is extremely uncommon in children.

Cause

• Growth plate inflammation on the back and the bottom of the heel

• Over-activity in children commonly between the ages of 8 and 14

• Tight muscles in the lower extremity, especially the calf muscle

• Flatfeet

• Poor shoe gear or walking barefoot

• Growth spurts

SYMPTOMS

• Discomfort in the heel bone at the end of activity

• Occasionally painful to the Achilles and ankle

• Stiffness in the foot in the morning and pain with walking or running

• Pain alleviated by rest and a decrease in activity

SEVER'S DISEASE

• Pain is usually present during or after a child is done with the activity, sits for a period of time, and then tries to get up and walk

SIGNS

• Tenderness to the back and bottom of the heel with touch or grasping the heel

• Walking on the ball of the foot to avoid touching the heel to the ground

• Discoloration and swelling are almost never seen in the heel

• Limping at the end of an activity that may persist as the condition worsens

Treatment

• Modification of activity and avoiding going barefoot

• Rest and ice

• Stretching exercises

• Proper shoe gear and heel lifts to decrease tension on the heel

• Night splinting to stretch the tight calf muscle and arch ligament

• Taping the foot to decrease the pulling of the plantar fascia on the heel bone

• Custom molded orthotics to support the foot and help restore proper alignment

• Occasional immobilization in a boot or cast to completely rest the heel and allow healing

• Physical therapy to improve flexibility and diminish inflammation of the growth plate

▸ Carlo A. Messina, DPM, is a Board Certified Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgeon, Diplomate American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He is a Foot and Ankle Surgeon with the Foot, Ankle and Leg Specialists of South Florida and specializes in treating infants, children, teens and adults. The South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine in Weston is located at 1600 Town Center Blvd., Suite C, (954) 389-5900 and in Pembroke Pines at 17842 NW 2nd Street, (954) 430-9901. www.SouthFloridaSportsMedicine.com

OFFERING SAME DAY & EARLY MORNING APPOINTMENTS & CONSULTATIONS

$800

NEW PATIENT $300 | FOLLOW UP (WITHOUT X-RAY) $100

SURGERY CONSULT $350 | X-RAYS $50 PER AREA | PRP $800

INJECTIONS

$550

STEM CELLS $1200 | SHOCKWAVE (5 SESSIONS) $600 | INJECTIONS

ORTHOTICS $400 | CASTS $200 | LACERATION REPAIR $550

SIMPLY | SUNSHINE | OSCAR | MEMORIAL PHO

NEW PATIENT $300 | FOLLOW UP (WITHOUT X-RAY) $100

SURGERY CONSULT $350 | X-RAYS $50 PER AREA | PRP

STEM CELLS $1200 | SHOCKWAVE (5 SESSIONS) $600 |

ORTHOTICS $400 | CASTS $200 | LACERATION REPAIR

SIMPLY | SUNSHINE | OSCAR | MEMORIAL PHO

NEW PATIENT $300 | FOLLOW UP (WITHOUT X-RAY) $100

SURGERY CONSULT $350 | X-RAYS $50 PER AREA | PRP $800

STEM CELLS $1200 | SHOCKWAVE (5 SESSIONS) $600 | INJECTIONS $100

ORTHOTICS $400 | CASTS $200 | LACERATION REPAIR $550

Over the past 4 years, The Arts Council of Greater Weston has offered service awards to seniors based on their service and commitment provided to the organization. They are selected for exemplary personal character, superior leadership in volunteering, and maximum volunteer hours in service to Arts Council of Greater Weston. They truly contribute to their community.

Claudina Fernandez, the Student Service Award Director for the Arts Council, says, “We are very pleased to award to these students exemplifying such high standards.”

This year recipients of the awards are Megan Sin and Valentina Bonfante, both seniors at Cypress Bay High School.

In Megan’s own words, “Nothing else, other than Weston World Fest, could have provided me with an opportunity to have such meaningful interactions with members of my community. I could not overstate my gratitude in being a part of such an event that has the power to reconfigure and redefine what it means for a community to be connected.” Besides her invaluable help provided to Weston World Fest and the organization, Megan is passionate about arts and culture and has volunteered in the Weston World Fest event since she was in middle school. In addition to contributing many hours to the Arts Council she also participated in school organizations and other nonprofit organizations. She will attend the University of Florida beginning this fall majoring in Math.

Valentina notes, “I appreciate the opportunity I’ve had to volunteer at the Arts Council. However, what I most value is being able to volunteer consistently for the City of Weston for over three years which has helped me appreciate my community.”

Aside from contributing numerous hours to the Arts Council, she is very involved in extracurricular activities and volunteers at the local elementary school assisting teachers. She is well-organized and has a great work ethic. She will attend Suffolk University in the fall and major in Marketing & Entrepreneurship.

Laura Dobrzanski, Arts Council President, is enthusiastic about this award. “We truly value their contribution to our organization over the years and sincerely appreciate all they have done for us and the City of Weston at large. We were pleased to present their awards to them at the May 15 City Commission meeting.”