Heel pain in the child | Pain in the heel

Heel pain in the child

A child may experience pain in the heel due to apophysitis calcanei. This causes a disorder in the growth plate of the heel bone. An apophysis is the medical term for a bone process that serves as an attachment for muscles, tendons or ligaments.

The apophysis of the calcaneus is where the Achilles tendon comes into play. The disorder causes the process to soften, resulting in pain in the heel. Apophysitis calcanei is the most common cause of heel pain during growth.

Boys who are active in sports are particularly affected. However, overweight also seems to play a role in the disease, as there is an imbalance between the ability to cope with stress and overloading.In most cases both feet are affected. The disease causes pressure sensitivity in the area of the heel, which may also lead to swelling.

The main symptom, however, is pain in the heel, which occurs particularly when walking or running. Sports should be avoided for about 4-6 weeks to treat the disease. It may also be helpful to wear heel pads or a heel wedge. Apophysitis calcanei usually heals without consequences.

Summary

Pain in the heel can be caused by various factors. The most common causes of heel pain, however, are overstrain during unusual sporting activities, overweight, incorrect footwear or foot malpositions. All of these causes can cause inflammation of the plantar aponeurosis, resulting in severe pain at the heel insertion point.

In addition, the inflammatory changes in the heel can contribute to bony restructuring and the development of a heel spur, which then also causes pain. But also chronic diseases like rheumatism or accidents can lead to heel pain. In addition to the anamnesis and clinical examination, X-ray diagnostics is an important part of the diagnostic process.

Inflammation parameters, an ultrasound examination or a magnetic resonance imaging can confirm the diagnosis. In addition to numerous conservative measures, which include physiotherapeutic exercises and treatments, as well as orthopedic aids, in rare cases an operation can contribute to therapy. In no case, however, should only one form of therapy be used. Due to the variety of causes and therapeutic options, persistent heel pain should be examined by a physician.