Why does my child's heel hurt?

Many children usually have heel pain. This is also a common disease among children. However, many parents do not pay attention to it. When a child has heel pain, we must pay attention to it, especially to go to the hospital with the child for timely examination and treatment, especially to find out the cause. This is also an abnormal phenomenon. So, what is going on with children's heel pain? Let’s take a look at it below.

Calcaneal epiphysis osteochondrosis (calcaneal epiphysisitis) is a type of heel pain that occurs in children, also known as childhood heel pain.

The calcaneus develops from two ossification centers, one that begins at birth and the other that usually forms after the age of 8 years. Before complete ossification occurs (usually by the age of 16), the fibers of the two parts of bone or tendon attachment to the epiphysis are connected together by cartilage, and strenuous activity can cause the cartilage to break. Heel pain in all children is more common in children who love sports.

Diagnosis and treatment

It is a self-limited disease involving the calcaneal epiphysis. It is more common in children aged 8-13 years old, especially in boys. In most patients, the onset of the disease seems to be related to excessive repetitive injury or stress to the Achilles tendon at its attachment to the calcaneus. There is often pain behind the heel, especially when running, jumping, or climbing stairs, and sometimes there is an occasional limp. On examination, there is a round swelling behind the heel that is hard and tender. Tenderness may occur not only behind the calcaneus but also on the outer side of the calcaneus. X-ray shows soft tissue swelling at the attachment of the Achilles tendon. The size, shape, density and internal structure of the ossification center of the calcaneus are irregular, and fragments can sometimes be seen. It is worth noting that X-ray manifestations similar to calcaneal epiphyseal osteochondrosis are often seen in normal children.

This disease should be differentiated from retrocalcaneal bursitis, Achilles tendinitis, etc. When you have symptoms, avoid strenuous exercise such as jumping, running, etc. Pain relief may be achieved by elevating the heel to reduce tension on the Achilles tendon and by eliminating any factors that may be causing pressure behind the heel.

Through the above introduction, we know what causes heel pain in children. When a child has this condition, we must pay attention to it, especially by actively checking. If it is not pathological, we must pay attention to it in life. If it is pathological, we need to find out the cause and carry out timely treatment. We must also pay attention to the care of the child in normal times.