If your child plays football and complains of heel pain after training or games, Sever's disease is one of the most common causes in active children — and despite the name, it isn't a disease at all, but a very manageable growth-related condition.
What is Sever's disease?
Sever's disease (medically known as calcaneal apophysitis) is irritation of the growth plate at the back of the heel, where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel bone. It typically affects children during growth spurts, most commonly between ages 8 and 14, and is especially common in sports involving a lot of running and jumping — football being a classic trigger.
Why football brings it on
During a growth spurt, bones can lengthen faster than the surrounding muscles and tendons can stretch to keep up. This creates extra tension at the point where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel's growth plate. The repetitive impact of running, sprinting and jumping in football places repeated stress on this already-tight area, leading to irritation and pain.
Typical symptoms
- Pain at the back or bottom of the heel, often worse during or after activity
- Tenderness when the sides of the heel are squeezed
- Limping, walking on tiptoes, or favouring one leg after training
- Pain that eases with rest but returns when activity resumes
- Usually no swelling or bruising
Is it serious?
Sever's disease is not a serious condition and doesn't cause any long-term damage — it resolves on its own once the growth plate matures, typically by the mid-teens. That said, ongoing pain shouldn't simply be pushed through, as continuing to play on a painful heel can prolong symptoms and affect your child's enjoyment of sport.
How physiotherapy helps
Treatment focuses on managing symptoms while keeping your child as active as possible, rather than complete rest. This typically includes activity modification (adjusting training load rather than stopping entirely), calf and Achilles stretching to reduce tension at the heel, footwear advice — supportive shoes with adequate heel cushioning make a real difference, and sometimes heel raises or orthotic support to reduce strain during the growth spurt. In most cases, a well-managed approach means your child can keep playing football through their recovery, just with some sensible adjustments.
When to get it checked
If your child has ongoing heel pain, is limping, or you're unsure whether it's Sever's disease or something else, a physiotherapy assessment will confirm the diagnosis and put together a plan so they can keep enjoying football with less discomfort.
Book a paediatric physiotherapy assessment with our team in the Sutherland Shire.
Written by Aaron Babb, MAppSc Physiotherapy — Founder & Director, Aevum Health & Physiotherapy.