Heel Pain in Kids

Kids undergoing growth spurts are especially susceptible to heel pain starting at age 8 until around age 13 for girls and age 15 for boys. The source of the pain is usually the growth plate of the heel bone, a strip of soft tissue where new bone is forming to accommodate adolescents’ lengthening feet. Overuse, repeated pounding, or excessive force on the Achilles tendon can cause inflammation and pain. The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons stresses that athletes should never “play through the pain” in their feet. Left untreated, heel pain can lead to difficulty in walking that will require complicated therapy. #Orthopaedics #HeelPain #KidsHealth