Heel Pain in Youth Athletes: Surgeon Urges Prompt Treatment for Growth Plate Injuries

Indoors and outdoors, youth athletes stay active year-round in competitive sports, and for many of them heel pain has become “just another part of the game.” Foot and ankle surgeon, Kevin Myer DPM, FACFAS, advises that when a child complains of heel pain, it should be diagnosed promptly because it may be a warning sign of a serious foot problem.  

Dr. Myer, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, says heel pain occurs frequently in children ages 6 to 14 as their feet grow and the heel bone develops. “As children become more active in sports they increase their risk for growth-plate injuries and subsequent heel pain,” says Myer. This is especially true at back-to-school time when surgeons see an increase in middle and high school athletes experiencing heel pain with football and soccer seasons simultaneously underway.  

“New bone forms in an area behind the heel, known as the growth plate, and cartilage is vulnerable to severe inflammation from strain or stress. With repeated stresses and strains from over activity, the heel becomes very painful,” Myer explains.

Even though growth-plate trauma is the leading cause of heel pain in young people, Dr. Myer says the condition can be difficult to diagnose. He cautions that parents should be concerned if a child has pain in the back or bottom of the heel, limps, walks on the toes, or seems to have difficulty participating in normal recreational activities. The condition is diagnosed by a thorough examination of the child’s feet and legs and possibly medical imaging tests to rule out other serious causes of heel pain, such as bursitis, tendonitis and fractures.

In most cases, mild or moderate heel pain can be treated successfully with shoe inserts to soften the impact on the heel, anti-inflammatory medications, stretching and physical therapy. In severe cases, the foot and ankle will be immobilized in a cast and, in some instances, surgery may be necessary.

Heel pain in young people often returns after treatment because the growth plate is still forming until the age of 14 or 15. However, the risk for recurrence can be lowered by choosing well-constructed shoes with good support and restricting use of spiked athletic shoes, especially on hard fields. It also is advised that young athletes avoid competition that exceeds their physical abilities.

If your child is experiencing heel or foot pain, call Dr. Myer’s office at 972-242-0660 for an assessment.   

For more information on heel pain in children visit the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons’ Web site, FootHealthFacts.org.

Author

Kevin D. Myer DPM, FACFAS Dr. Myer is a Podiatric Foot & Ankle Surgeon, Board-Certified in Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgery by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. A native of Carrollton, Texas, Dr. Myer has been practicing in the North Dallas area since 2007. Voted by his medical peers as a "Top Doc" in the City of Dallas and Collin County annually since 2013, Dr. Myer strives to keep all of his patients in the game and off the sidelines of life through both conservative and surgical means when necessary. Dr. Myer is happily married to Lainie (going on 25+ years...) with whom he proudly parents three boys, Cade, Brennan, and Grayson. On the weekends, you might find Dr. Myer attending one of his boys athletic events or behind a camera capturing any number of available subjects.