Signs, Symptoms and Possible Causes of Heel Pain in Children

If you’ve experienced heel pain, you will know how inconvenient it was and how important your feet suddenly became!

Feet functioning properly is surprisingly important when they begin to let us down! It's so easy to neglect your feet and take them for granted. Heel pain not only occurs in adults, but children commonly experience sore heels too. You’re going to hear about it from your kids, considering they’re using them all the time so it's so important to try and react to these signs and symptoms early if you can as it could possibly be more than just a blister or a splinter, these heel pains unfortunately, are the cries of some underlying issue demanding attention.

Heel pain can be due to one or multiple different issues. It can involve any structure in the feet including:

• Bone
• Nerve
• Bursa
• Adipose tissue
• Tendon
• Ligament
• Joints
• Muscles
• Skin

 
Heel pain can occur in any area of the heel and can also radiate or refer pain to other areas.

Signs can include things such as

• Erythema (red appearance)
• Swelling
• Heat
• Discoloration or spots
• Lumps or pitting
• Flaking skin
• The child not putting the heel down or lifting it early
• Limping
• Toe walking
• Pain on palpation

Symptoms can include things such as

• Pain worse after rest
• Pain worse after activity
• Pain whilst stretching
• Pain while doing activity
• Deep set pain
• Numbness
• Stinging
• Pain changing locations
• Occurring in conjunction with a low immune e.g. general cold
• Itching
• Burning
• Malodor

Once we react and take action to signs and symptoms, it also allows us to become proactive in the face of possible re-occurrence or in any other issue/s that have have been bought to our attention.
​
The most common pathologies causing heel pain include (not in order)

• Calcaneal apophysitis (otherwise known as Sever’s or growing pains)
• Bursitis (the posterior foot has many different bursae that can become irritated)
• Tendonitis (different tendons may be under strain. Depending on the location this could be the Achilles, Posterior Tibialis or Peroneal’s)
• Fat pad contusion (bruising of the adipose tissue under the foot.
• Plantar fasciitis
• Warts (Human Papilloma Virus)
• Tinea Pedis
• Haglund’s Deformity

Less common pathologies can include

• Pitted keratolysis (bacterial skin infection)
• Calcaneal stress fracture
• Tarsal coalition (fusion of bones)
• Tumors
• Cysts
• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

It is important to visit a podiatrist for proper assessment, diagnosis and management or referral. Even if it seems straight forward and self-explanatory about what may be going on with your child’s heel pain it is important to seek professional advice as your home treatment plan is likely to not be as effective. Also, understanding why this issue has popped up is just as important as treatment!
 
Addressing signs and symptoms of heel pain, then consequently the underlying issue may also shine light on other issue/s that have gone unnoticed e.g. tight muscles; limited range of motion in joints, limb length difference etc. Addressing these can lead to a healthier, more comfortable and active life. It may help with sport performance and or just feeling more confident to get out and play!

Written by Anneliese Ball, Podiatrist
Health Associates
Working Monday and every 2nd Saturday
 
 
References

1. DAVISON, M. J. et al. Careful assessment the key to diagnosing adolescent heel pain. Practitioner, [s. l.], v. 260, n. 1793, p. 30, 2016. Disponível em: <http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.newcastle.edu.au/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=115842957&site=eds-live>. Acesso em: 21 jul. 2019.
2. http://www.asgfootcare.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/childrens-feet700.jpg  

Anneliese Ball
Podiatrist
​
Anneliese is at Health Associates as a podiatrist working Monday and fortnightly Saturday.
She holds both a Bachelor of Psychology and Podiatry.
As a podiatrist she combines her proficient knowledge of human mechanics and ability to connect and engage with her patients to deliver outstanding clinical outcomes and an exceptional customer experience.
Anneliese loves health and fitness and enjoys encouraging her patients to maximise their health.

---

BOOK ONLINE