What is the Severs of the foot?

Severs “disease” is a growth plate related disorder of the heel bone.

 

 

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How is it commonly injured?

• Severs usually occurs in boys aged 10-14 and girls a little younger at 8-13. This is when the heel bone is maturing into its adult form - the calcaneus.

• The achilles tendon attaches right into this severs plate and active children can occasionally develop this painful heel disorder.

• Active children are the most common to get severs.

 

 

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Classification and Signs and Symptoms of this injury

Severs symptoms are:

• Pain after activity 

• Pain after activity periods eg: at half time or full time in sport games

• Pain on palpation of the severs plate

• The child will “run funny” due to stiffness and pain in the heel area

• No swelling is noted

• No bruising is noted

 

 

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Current management techniques

• Rest Ice, Compression, Elevation: all these techniques help to control the swelling and pain.

• Maintenance of strength losses via specific foot exercises

• Maintenance of range of motion loss via specific foot exercises

• Massage of he calf area can help reduce the tension on the area

• Orthotics can help reduce the tension on the achilles and severs plate