Help for Sever's Disease (heel pain) in Kids | Tim Keeley | Physio REHAB

[@kstar5398]

My 10 year old has just been diagnosed with this today. The orthopedic surgeon said he can still play basketball but we need to make sure he is resting and taking it easy and recommend the stretching. Will try the medical tape for support. He is on a traveling basketball team and plays in tournaments and absolutely loves the sport would hate for him to not be able to play. Thank you so much for the video!

[@physiorehab]

Work on the calf raises as a priority

[@drnorton364]

Brilliant information this. The tape job has worked a treat for reducing pain and we've started the iso holds. Very few other sources about Severs are so upbeat and positive about it- it really helps to hear your no bs approach and your reassurance that pain doesn't mean lasting damage but rather required a nuanced moderated approach to sport and rest. Love it.

[@physiorehab]

Great to hear!

[@santiagomontiel800]

Question, what tape did you use? Adhesive or like stronger tape

[@drnorton364]

@@santiagomontiel800 zinc oxide tape (normal non stretch medical tape). Very easy to get hold of online. Dont buy the cheapest, it wont be sticky enough. I used the 3.8cm width

[@neildean7515]

Thanks, Great video, i like the tape idea. My 11yr old is a GK in Barcelona and has started to complain about his heels🤔. We will discuss with his Coach and physio. It’s so important for child athletes to get the right balance of practice, rest, Sleep and diet!!! Thanks

[@physiorehab]

Good luck!

[@milesprice5471]

Hello thank you for this video, i have been suffering with severes for about 4 months now but i didnt know what was going on at first and its been an on and off problem. It has been keeping me from doing school sports and running. Now im just starting to realise what i have to do help the healing process and do some strenthing exercises

[@lawsonhiggins3031]

My 12 yr old son has just been diagnosed with severs in his left heel from too much basketball. He was put in a soft cast for 9 days and he said the pain has gone so am now going to tape it and see if he can manage a basketball practise. thank you so much for this information!

[@physiorehab]

Pleasure! All the rehab work can be found in the rehab program: physiorehab.com/rehab-programs-achilles-injury-surgery-rehab

[@amandaphilip]

Thank you so much for this video. My 12 year old son is dealing with this and is in constant pain. He's an active boy, and plays on a baseball team, so it's really affecting him. I hope these suggestions help.

[@physiorehab]

Hope they do too! Remember it’s also about rest and recovery, many kids get it because the are playing too many sports at once or too much training without adequate recovery days

[@kristopherkelly4658]

Great video. My 10 year old has been suffering in and off for two years and it’s been difficult to watch it affect his ability to play sports. Definitely going to try the taping method to see if it helps. These are easy, realistic options for parents to at least feel like they are offering some aid. Hope it helps a little!!

[@physiorehab]

Hope it helps him!

[@johnlocke4715]

@Kristopher Kelly I had it for many years as a child. Everyone’s different but let your son know I had it bad and that he will grow out of it like i did and it will make him stronger.

[@BenKeeley-qx6pu]

Coming to this video a 14 year old just starting growth and a runner at a competitive level thanks for this

[@seapeace3]

My son is 10 and has been dealing with it for over one year. May I ask if your son's pain has improved since your original post? Did the taping work back then?

[@christopherminors3200]

I’ve had severe’s for the last five months..thank you very much this cleared up a lot of things..looking to make a nice recovery.

[@christopherminors3200]

@@dy2a2 the pain level has lowered

[@physiorehab]

Glad it helps hope you do well

[@emineylmaz6762]

Merhaba benim kızım 6 yaşında sever hastalığı çıktı doktorumuz amaliyat öneriyor bende amaliyata pek sıcak bakmıyorum bu durumda ne yapmam gerekiyor yazarsanız sevinirim teşekkürler

[@johnlocke4715]

Had this from 7-12. Doctors/physios tried everything (even a cast for 6 months). Eventually just grew out of it: I still remember the pain slamming my heel on a metal pole during swimming training. Feel sorry for any kids with this.

[@pumpsyt6885]

Lol I was swimming the same thing happened to me and my heel still hurts rn.

[@johnlocke4715]

@@pumpsyt6885 ouch, i feel for you :’( do you have severs too? Make sure to drink lots of water, stretch it, ice bath it and rest with anti inflammatories.

[@yukimodz9127]

@@johnlocke4715 I’m 14 and I’m not sure whether I have this or insertional Achilles tendinitis. Sometimes I feel the pain at the heel or even just under the heel. SomeTIMES I feel not pain as such but discomfort even higher up but I feel like I’m thinking about the pain being there when it isnt

[@johnlocke4715]

@@yukimodz9127 you need to confirm with a doctor. My pain waa directly on my heel.

[@Skrabbatt]

still have it, started when i was 10. now im 15

[@willybobjoe7378]

I just got diagnosed, wish me luck

[@physiorehab]

Good luck!

[@harriswillis8257]

Cheers mate well explained and really needed this

[@maddiexo3420]

Ive had Severs for 5 years. Ive tryed Therapy, Massage, Walking Cast, Etc. My growthplate has shifted back.

[@bray6833]

Very good video it has helped so much. I’m usually in absolute agony after my footy games

[@physiorehab]

Glad it helped!

[@KH-ll5ul]

Very well explained...thank u.

[@physiorehab]

🙏

[@stephensena5332]

Anyone have any feedback on when to tape/when not to? Wondering if ok to tape before play or if it should be say at night. But great info here! Watched it with my 10y/o who is having symptoms so trying these tips as we wait for an appointment...

[@physiorehab]

I had two kids in my sons soccer team last year that I taped for every game which helped out a lot

[@SafeMotions]

Thank you for that video, very clearly explained.

[@physiorehab]

Glad you found it useful!

[@djcobb74]

Thank you for such a detailed explanation, its very helpful. Do you think a lack of stretching could have contributed to Sever's? I noticed that for some reason, my daughters soccer team at U10-U11 does almost no stretching as they say its not recommended anymore? We stretched every time we played in the 80's and 90's. I wonder if the lack of stretching is contributing to an increase in Sever's cases.

[@physiorehab]

Could be a factor but more like training volume, conditioning and growth spurts at that age

[@austinwinchester2954]

Hi Doc, I’m a 26 year old male, diagnosed with sever’s disease when I was 11. Suffer from heel pain still to this day, always when I’m on my feet for extended periods, and my feet do not hurt in the morning like most plantar fasciitis cases. They ache for several hours after work and being on my feet on the bottom of heel and sides, and standing on them for long periods hurts significantly worse than walking for long periods. Tried all kinds of insoles seen podiatrists etc, no heel spurs etc. What can I do from here? Going to try the taping technique and see if that helps but open to any options. Thanks!

[@physiorehab]

Hope it gets better!

[@kevinfagan279]

What kind of tape are you using when wrapping the heel?

[@gatorslim5781]

Thanks for posting. My 9 year old has been dealing with what we think is Sever's. He plays soccer 3-4 days a week and says that warm baths really help. we're going to try the taping and these stretching exercises as well.

[@theamcconnell6362]

Really hmm my son play rugby and football, we are waiting to see the podiatrist. Rugby and football every weekend.....he had been constant pains....we think he got server's

[@gatorslim5781]

@@theamcconnell6362 my son eventually grew out of it but it seems to be quite common. hoping your son's pain goes away

[@seapeace3]

Great explanation. Thanks for taking the time to do it. What type of type should we purchase? We are in the US

[@physiorehab]

Head to shop.physiorehab.com for all the taping supplies - can be shipped direct to US

[@pk-wn4ur]

I have had it for the last 4 years I'm now 15 and I had to stop all sports because i can't run and still not gone just need to hope it goes

[@physiorehab]

Hope you get over it soon!

[@naurm.a4686]

Yikes. I watched 4 different videos and all four therapists taped completely different. Not sure what to do at all.

[@That_one_cheer-girlie]

Hi this helps so much i have had aevers for a long time now and recently its been really bad

[@dansilverstein9347]

I'm all for building tolerance to loading via calf raises, isometrically or isotonically. Absolutely agree we're dealing with an apophysitis as opposed to a tendinopathy, but wouldn't static stretching of the calf cause greater traction at the insertion and possibly exacerbate symptoms?

[@physiorehab]

The calf stretching is for the calf not the Achilles. A calf will stretch first before the Achilles as It is a more contractile element. But yes we don’t try and “stretch out” the Achilles pain

[@yukimodz9127]

@@physiorehab hello I’m 14 so I wonder if I may have this. I feel pain here at the heel but also it may go more above into the tendon. So does that mean I can’t have it? Or what do u think. I’m aware you can’t diagnose it online

[@physiorehab]

@@yukimodz9127 best to work on the exercises to see if it improves and at the same time reduce the sporting / impact / running load for it to recover

[@yukimodz9127]

@@physiorehab alright but do you know what it may be? I haven’t watched the video yet but what I do is eccentric heel drops 3x15 2x a day and I used to add weight but then I stopped. I will still check these exercises

[@yukimodz9127]

@@physiorehab I just checked the video a bit and I saw the up on two, down on one exercise and yes that’s what I do. I also start to stretch my calves. But a wall stretch

[@Grzegorz_Wiecek]

My son has severs right now. The pain is horrible. He is limping and any slightest touch to the area of heel is screaming from pain... :(

[@physiorehab]

Maybe get him off to the Physio for some relief

[@Grzegorz_Wiecek]

@@physiorehab We are now in Physio. Taping, massage and energetic laser. We are going today to get specific heel cups mayde for him.

[@madelynequestrian1333]

Ive had it for 4 years. After many MRI, X-Rays, Therapy. Its not going away. I have been told i have a Bone Tumor. And also a Stress Reaction. I hate it.

[@physiorehab]

Perhaps have a look at the exercise in our Achilles program here: physiorehab.com/rehab-programs-achilles-injury-surgery-rehab

[@Indiana_Hoopers]

My 11 year old son. Trains and plays AAU basketball. Aside of your wonderful recommendations, Do you recommend inserts / soles for basketball shoes? Kindly, Coach C

[@drnorton364]

Hi Tim, do you recommend taping for islelin disease?

[@unknownstranger6346]

yea i have to run a mile every week and i've had it for 7 months. so idk what to do now, i didn't know what it was till a week ago when my uncle (physical therapist) checked it out

[@pep8914]

When playing football or going on runs after 5 minutes the heel/ankle both start to be in a lot of pain (in both legs) meaning I have to stop running however there is no inflammation and sometimes it just goes away 10-15 minutes later and this has been happening for 1-2 years

[@physiorehab]

Sounds like you need strengthening work. Have a look at the Achilles videos just posted and coming up

[@stepefood]

Hi from Athens, Greece! Sever is international... 🤥We found resently that my son has it so he stopped playing football. i would like to ask if you would recomend ANY other kind of sport that it would be suitable. Thanx!

[@physiorehab]

It’s about load and rest not necessarily the sport. Swimming and cycling would be less aggravating though

[@renuahlawat7080]

Really helpful

[@physiorehab]

😄

[@theamcconnell6362]

My son play football and Rugby every weekend....he is 9 will be 10 in march, he had constant pains we thinks it server's. How long not to play football or rugby?

[@loganwaldo1834]

what tape did you use

[@S79CR]

I have pain in the back of my heel from soccer 😢 it won’t go it has been there for around 3 months

[@crazynaska]

how do you help your chld if they have to practice soccer 3 times a week, lots of massage and epsome salt soaks? We will start he tape.

[@realijeomalove]

My son's 10 and was just diagnosed... he's a football player and going to try taping it down with calf exercises to help! But my goodness if this is normal why call it a disease? 😑

[@physiorehab]

Yes should be Called injury right?

[@reyjosephflechas4492]

Wow i aint gonna lie tho,he has a VERY beautiful sole!!!

[@quemice]

Hi¡ thanks a lot for this video, my 11 yearl old is going thru Severs for a year now and I'll try anything to help him ease his pain. What kind of tape are you using? and for how long he should be taped during the day? He is getting electro stimulation and ultra sound therapy 3 times a week and one anti inflamatory pill every day. I really appreciate your inputs¡ Cheers from Guadalajara México

[@physiorehab]

Rigid sports tape for heel and Kinesio Up the calf also helps

[@quemice]

@@physiorehab thanks a lot!

[@johnlocke4715]

@Quemice Sorry this is just personal experience but had severs from 7-12 on and off. Had electro therapy and ultra sound, unfortunately nothing really definitively worked I simply kind of grew out of it at 12. I do remember sinking my achilles in ice-cold water for 15 minutes on and off was effective. The pain is horrible I remember slamming the exact spot on the tendon swimming on some metal. Please let your son know he will grow out of it.

[@quemice]

@@johnlocke4715 thanks a lot for your response, I'll let him know about your experience

[@quemice]

Update: it took 2 years of total rest, severs is gone now and he is back doing sports without pain. Cheers¡@@johnlocke4715

[@KambizNadery]

I have this But I don't know stop playing football or no Please help me help🙏 😢

[@physiorehab]

Some people can play with it if the rehab improves them each week

[@jenniferblood8342]

What kind of tape do you use?

[@physiorehab]

Rigid strapping tape for the bottom of the heel. All taping we use can be found here: shop.physiorehab.com/collections/strapping-tape

[@zookia5014]

I have had this for 4 years, i kept playing sport, now i had to stop becuz it was so bad

[@physiorehab]

Shame - hope you get better

[@zookia5014]

@@physiorehab ty

[@KaliPreppy]

I have this diease rn!

[@drivesideways6550]

Thank you for posting , my Son is 9 and going thru this, ( I went thru this a little bit older 12-13 though there was no internet to learn about what was causing the pain. I had never heard of the term Sever's Disease. I used Solid Plastic heel cups and an Ace Bandage, to get me through. My question to you is how often to use the stretches, and should they be used before Practice and Games?

[@jamesstock3089]

My daughter has sever’s and she does gymnastics and she has had it since she was 7 and now she is 11 should it be going on this long?

[@physiorehab]

Sounds like she needs strengthening of the Achilles. Did she ever stop the gymnastic load though

[@doviberger9248]

Can u have Severus on both

[@maxhagger5197]

Im 16 and I’ve got severs, what should I do? just use this strapping shown in this video

[@sam.hollins]

Once doing a week of the isometric exercises, should you continue them each day in addition to the eccentric exercises?

[@physiorehab]

Yep keep up the isometrics for 3-4 weeka

[@RabbDouglas]

Just a question. So ice for 48 hours then strap and move onto the strengthen exercises?

[@mohammedibrahim750]

What is the name of the tape ? Plz help

[@jeanhaver69]

It's generally called medical tape, but you can do research into it by looking up medical tapes for severs disease.

[@physiorehab]

Zinc oxide serrated edged sports tape

[@natesavoie8264]

Thanks man! I am 15 and had this pain in my left heel for a couple months about two years ago, then in my right heel last year for a while. It went away for a good amount of time, and yesterday is showed back up again in my right foot. I play a ton of high level sports and am running all the time. Thanjs for this video. So if I can push through the pain, will I injure it further or will there be Long term damage?

[@physiorehab]

Probably not it’s just the pain will stop you playing for some time if it gets too inflamed

[@brynn_02405]

Omg that’s weird because I had it a couple years ago in left foot now it’s here again in my right foot :(

[@orlandothefootballbeast107]

I have a really bed severed seaside it sucks

[@Nxrvy]

I'm 11 and I've had this pain since I was 9, hurts so bad even though my foot is not doing anything.

[@physiorehab]

Hope it gets better with some calf raises

[@pumpsyt6885]

I got it wen I was 7 and I’m 11 it hurts so much

[@Nxrvy]

@@pumpsyt6885 my pain recently got way better, hope your gets better too

[@yukimodz9127]

@@Nxrvy may I ask if ur pain is directly on the heel. Mine is sort of but sometimes the pain is directly above too like slightly. The squeeze fest doesn’t really work either . So I’m not too sure if I have it

[@Nxrvy]

@@yukimodz9127 my pain was on my calcaneus bone, just a little bit below the part where there's the lines on your foot that bends

[@ElizabethAlvarez-gz7hc]

My daughter is 10 and playing sports including basketball 5 times a week. I’m assuming this is what she has and some days she says hurt more than others. It’s been 3 weeks. Im going to try the taping but now I’m worried because I see people here putting lasts for years😢

[@redherbert0755]

I am 13 had this pain from 11 years old

[@physiorehab]

It will get better with time. Managing load is key here

[@redherbert0755]

@@physiorehab thank you

[@susanramen1615]

This is good yall

[@physiorehab]

👍

[@JacobAndrews-jw3ob]

I have had this severs desiese for 4 years and it has worsened i have had to hugely cut down on my sport and is very frustrating . Is there anything for extreme cases?

[@jesusalejo4158]

Should you only put a heel raise on the heel that hurts? Or both?

[@physiorehab]

Both or your Pelvis will be on a slight angle

[@rabenius4895]

Can you play football while having this?

[@physiorehab]

It’s all dependent on pain levels

[@napoleonbonaparte28]

I’m 15 but I had this pain since I was 8 or 9 years old and it hurts so bad soccer season just started but I can’t even jog or kick a ball. I just want to know how long I have to do these stretches before it’s gone for good

[@physiorehab]

Usually age and time sorts it all out but keep up the strengthening work!

[@emerieje]

I started having heel pain about 2 weeks ago. I am a tumbler so I use my feet A TON. (Over use😂) it got to the point where I couldn’t even walk. (Yesterday) Now my parents decided to put me into a boot for 2 weeks (without tumbling) and they said that I could go back to tumbling after the two weeks. How does that sound.

[@physiorehab]

Ot might help settle. Then strengthening needs to follow

[@allisonadamson5340]

My son started going through this when he was 7 years old. He had PT when he was 7.5 years old. PT said he is a toe walker. He is currently 8 years, and loves soccer but has a very difficult time running because of the pain in both of his heels and lower legs. He has very recently started refusing to put his heels down when he walks. He also has flat feet which does not help matters. Any suggestions for soccer cleats and orthotics that will help him during practice and games?

[@physiorehab]

I suggest seeing a podiatrist in this case

[@srortiz78]

Hi Allison do you have any updates on your son ? my son has the same problem except for the the tow walker part , but his heels started hurting when he was about 8.5 years old not enough to stop him from playing soccer, but now that he turned 9.5 his heels hurt so bad during soccer practice and during games that he starts limping a lot, breaks my heart to see him like that because he loves soccer, he is perfectly fine when he is not playing soccer but I guess that the impact of running and kicking the ball is what aggravates his heels, I have taken him to a podiatrist before his heels started hurting this bad and he said that my son does have flat feet of which I already knew but I just wanted confirmation, he was given plastic inserts for his shoes, I will be taking my son back to the podiatrist in 2 days so that I can consult with him about my sons heel pain and get any recommendations so that my son can keep playing soccer.

[@V3locityz_]

HI -- my son is 11 and he is flat footed. We had to go to PT for 2 months, lay off sports for 2 weeks, followed by 6 weeks of restricted play. Son was prescribed a ton of stretching exercises to be done 3 to 4 times aweek, and strength training. We were told to ice after ever practice and game. That is how you are expected to manage until the growth ends-- like 17. Good luck! Basketball season is near for us. Also, he wore dr scholls orthopedics for 2 months...Now he wears heal cups-- that really helps. Doctor STRESSES THE EXERCISES!!!!

[@avacoleman1651]

I’ve heel problems since 2nd grade I’m now in 6th grade should I be wearing a boot? I play softball and basketball and it got worse this year. I’m pretty sure it’s severs.

[@physiorehab]

Perhaps you need that assessed professionally?

[@sam.hollins]

I am a 15 year old runner and I started having heel pain when I was about 13 , I have been to see physios and they didn’t know what it was however I am pretty sure that it is severs , it fits the description. It has been on and off for about 2 years now ( I am now 15), is this normal? Is it ok to still keep running with Severs, if you’re doing all of the exercises / icing?

[@physiorehab]

Yes it could be. It should pass but I would be seeking advice on correct load and rest programming for running and sport to have it settle consistently over the next 6 months

[@isit_intreestbh2630]

My football trainer said I have this

[@moshaibi7889]

I’m 11 years old and my feet hurt so bad I play football so if I can’t treat it fast I might get kicked out I can’t even run for 4 seconds with stoping because of the pain

[@physiorehab]

Good luck! I would try to see a physio and get taping to see if it helps

[@tasosvel6458]

I have this 5 years straight beacuse i was doing a lot of football practice after 4 years i played again and then after some months it came up i have done everything stretching psychotherapy a lot of time ice in feet heel cups everything what im supposed to do to get rid of this can u help me?

[@tasosvel6458]

+im 15 now i got it at 10

[@charlifitzgerald3501]

Hi! I have had pain in my heel for about a year, I have tried exercises but I still feel it! Is there something I should do or bandage it?

[@physiorehab]

Um - where is the pain?

[@lilsart5702]

I have pain in my ankles and heels before I knew I had severs I did track my heels and ankles hurts so bad sometimes I can’t walk my parents won’t let me quit track and I have to run 5 miles every day what should I do

[@physiorehab]

@@lilsart5702 see a physio and get it taped perhaps

[@charlifitzgerald3501]

Sorry didn’t se your reply, thanks for replying! In the heel.

[@todafett5865]

Cameraman - stop breathing!

[@rabenius4895]

Rip me I have this and Patella Tendonitis 🥲