Plantar Fasciitis in kids

Heel pain in children is very common and can present as pain and tenderness in the heel or back of the foot or ankle. You can notice that your child is walking on their toes or is limping to avoid the pain. If your child is experiencing this, it is important to seek medical advice from a podiatrist, as soon as possible.

Many children are involved in a lot of sporting activities, which can lead to overuse of tendons and ligaments over time. When this overuse occurs It can usually be managed with rest and conservative measures. Treating these conditions in the early stages when they first occur, is important. This is because early management will lead to quicker recovery. If ignored, the condition becomes chronic and will lead to a slow and difficult recovery.

There are a few conditions that can be associated with heel pain: Sever’s disease, Achilles tendinitis, Plantar fasciitis or even fractures. It is very important to seek medical advice to assess the condition in order to diagnose it appropriately and treat it correctly.

Sever’s disease can occur in children aged between 8- 14 years old. This is because during this time, children go through a period of growth and if they are involved in physical activities that require running and jumping, it can cause inflammation which then causes heel pain.

Achilles tendinitis often occurs after a sudden increase in activity, usually into a new sports season. Activities such as running, jumping or pivoting can aggravate the tendon. Pain in the Achilles tendon often presents at the back of the foot and up, along the calf muscle. This can lead to limping.

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia which is a ligament that connects the heel bone to the toes. This is mostly caused by an overuse, due to repetitive impact. Symptoms are usually worse in the mornings or after rest. They can also start of mild or even disappear, however it can get worse over time if not treated at the early stages.

Treatment options for heel pain can vary. This is why it is important to get the right diagnosis of the condition. In the early stages of inflammation treatment options at home that can help are: Rest, ice, compression, elevation and rolling on a tennis ball to massage the ligament or tendon will help reduce any inflammation that has started.