Heel pain among growing athletes is most commonly attributed to Sever’s disease, officially known as calcaneal apophysitis.  Usually active children from the ages of 7 to 15 are the unfortunate people hindered by this heel pain.  The cause is overuse causing repetitive trauma on the growth plates in the heel.  Usually, this occurs earlier in development at ages 10 to 12, before student athletes enter into serious sports competition.

What are some symptoms of Sever’s Disease?  Heel tenderness, pain in the morning, pain when heel is squeezed, limping, pain during athletic activity (especially toward the end of workouts).

There are a variety of heel pain treatments for Sever’s Disease.  I could go on and on, but I really want to emphasize one: REST.  Especially if you are working with an athlete that is 10 to 12, do the kid a favor and make him or her rest or cut back on activity.  Of course icing and ibuprofen can help with symptoms.

Heel pain is a common affliction that affects many of us. At times, heel pain is caused by a complete body illness like arthritis or gout, but mostly, heel pain is caused by a condition in the foot itself. Some of the most common causes that lead to heel pain are as follow:
• Plantar fasciitis: This is the most common and leading cause of heel pain. When the tight tissues that form the arch of your food get inflamed, due to constant standing or walking, it can lead to heel pain.
•Heel Spur: If plantar fasciitis is ignored long enough, it can lead to an abnormal growth of bone where the muscles attached themselves to the heel bone.
• Tarsal tunnel Syndrome: Very similar to the carpel tunnel syndrome where a nerve in the hand gets pinched and causes pain, the tarsal tunnel syndrome is heel pain caused by a pinched nerve.
• Achilles tendonitis: This is caused by the inflammation of the Achilles tendon. Achilles tendons are prone to inflammation due to overuse or excessive exercise.
• Pump Bump: This heel pain is caused by an abnormal growth of a bone at the back of the foot.
• Bursitis: The bursa is a sac that lines many joints and allows tendons and muscles to move easily when the joint is moving. When this sac gets inflamed, it causes heel pain.
• Calcaneal apophysitis: When the center of the heel bone becomes irritated as a result of a new shoe or increased athletic activity, it causes heel pain.

Considering that a foot pain can be caused by such a large variety of causes, it is important that you get it diagnosed by a medical professional as soon as possible. You need to accurately describe the type of pain you are experiencing and the exact location of your pain. The method of diagnosing a heel pain includes:
• Evaluation of your gait when you are barefoot
• Examination of your feet for tenderness, swelling, discoloration, muscle weakness and decreased range of motion.
• A neurological examination that tests the strength, sensation and reflexes of your foot.

Since heel pain can be caused by a number of different factors, the treatment of heel pain differs from case to case and is primarily based on the cause of heel pain.
• Plantar fasciitis: If the heel pain is caused by inflammation of tissues in the arch of the foot, a six- to eight-week program of conservative treatment is usually recommended. The treatment may also include temporary rest from sports or activities like consistent standing or walking that triggered the heel pain in the first place. As part of pain relief and treatment, you may be recommended doing stretching exercises, applying ice to the inflamed area, wearing specifically modified footwear, etc. This treatment may be complimented by anti inflammatory and pain killing medication. If this conservative treatment is not effective, you may be recommended to wear a night splint or a short leg cast.
• Heel spur: If your heel pain is caused by an abnormal growth of bone between the muscles and the heel bone, you may be recommended the use of shoe supports and medication.
• Calcaneal apophysitis: If your heel pain is caused by the center of the heel bone becoming irritated as a result of a new shoe or increased athletic activity, rest is usually the only treatment recommended. You need to avoid the shoes that caused the heel pain and you may also find pain relief in the use of heel pads and heel cushions.
• Bursitis:: If your heel pain is caused by the inflammation of the bursa sac, changing the type of footwear may be the only treatment recommended along with plenty of rest. Pain killers may be recommended in case of extreme inflammation.
• Pump bump: If your heel pain is caused by the abnormal growth of a bone at the back of your foot, the recommended treatment is similar to the treatment recommended for bursitis and heel spur. You are most likely to be recommended rest, pain medication in case of severe pain and the use of heel cushions and pads.

Heel pain is a very common affliction. It can be caused by a number of different causes and its treatment vary from case to case depending on the cause. Even the kind of symptoms you experience will vary depending on what has caused your heel pain in the first place. The heel can be painful in various different ways, some of which are:
• Plantar fasciitis: If the heel pain is caused by inflammation of tissues in the arch of the foot, you are likely to feel pain along the bottom portion of your foot, especially in the mornings, when it stretches for the first time after a period of rest. After a little walking, there seems to be more flexibility in the foot and less pain, but this pain is likely to return after an extended period of use and strain on the foot.
• Heel spur: If your heel pain is caused by an abnormal growth of bone between the muscles and the heel bone, you are likely to not experience any specific symptoms, but only tenderness at the bottom of the heel. The only change in this condition is that this tenderness will increase with the passage of time and will become pain.
• Calcaneal apophysitis: If your heel pain is caused by the center of the heel bone becoming irritated as a result of a new shoe or increased athletic activity, the lower back portion of the heel will feel tender and painful. This portion may be painful even to touch, even though there are no visible signs of inflammation or swelling.
• Bursitis: If your heel pain is caused by the inflammation of the bursa sac, you will experience pain in the centre of the bottom of your heel. This pain is likely to get worse under strain like excessive walking or standing. You may also feel pain at the back of your heel, which is likely to get worse as you bend your foot upwards or downwards.