Severs disease is a growth problem that happens in youngsters who play a lot of sport. As the back of the heel bone or calcaneus there is a thin cartilage growth plate that growth of the bone occurs at. The Achilles tendon inserts into the back of this growth plate. During sport, especially on hard surfaces there can be a lot of strain from the hard ground and the Achilles tendon pulling on this growth plate. Severs disease is a “strain” of the growth plate. Some even consider Severs disease to be a stress fracture of the growth plate. The most common symptom of severs disease is pain at the back of the heel on activity and pain on squeezing the heel on the sides at the back. Severs disease does not happen in those over the age of around 15 as the growth plate merges with the surrounding bone at about or before that age. The treatment for Severs disease is to initially reduce activity levels and use a cushioned heel raise. Foot orthotics is sometimes used. If this is not helpful then a further reduction in activity is needed and a walking brace may even be used. Severs disease is a self limiting condition as the growing cartilage area merges with bone, so there is no permanent disability.
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