Taping for Sever's Disease: Effective Techniques to Reduce Heel Pain

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What is Sever's Disease?

Sever’s disease, also known as 'calcaneal apophysitis' is a common heel pain primarily experienced by highly active children. It is caused when children are still growing rapidly while being highly active. The heel pain will come and go and usually last a few years. 

As a child is going through growth spurts, the bones and tendons grow and change rapidly. The growth area will be weaker than normal and is more prone to being injured. When the bones in the lower calf grow quickly, the Achilles tendon will become tight and add stress to the bone on the heel. 

It is hard to prevent severs disease, especially for active children. Although restricting sport and straining activities  can prevent the severity of the flare up, rest and limiting activities at early detection, can reduce the heel pain. Managing the pain is important to prevent any further injuries. 

 

 

Symptoms of Sever’s Disease

- Pain or tenderness in the heel:
  This heel pain is usually felt during or after exercise

- Mild swelling:
  If present, will be seen around the heel bone

- Limping:
  The child may be walking differently and struggling to put pressure on the heel 

If you suspect your child has these symptoms or is experiencing pain or discomfort, please see a physician to diagnose the cause. 

Taping for Sever's Disease: A Step-by-Step Guide: 

If your child is still participating in activities, try Kinesiology Tape to relieve muscle pain, support muscle function and improve blood flow. Follow the steps below on severs disease taping: 

Step 1: Preparation 
Place the Kinesiology Tape on the bottom of the foot in the middle of the arch.

Step 2: Applying First Strip
Place your Achilles on stretch by lowering your heel. Pointing your toes up stretch the tape and attach the end to the top of the Achilles on the back of the leg.

Step 3: Applying Second Strip
To further secure the tape, place two anchors evenly spread across your Achilles.

Step 4: Secure
Rub the tape to activate the adhesive for extra support and security 

 

Safety Tips and Mistakes to Avoid

While taping, it is important to avoid any common mistakes to prevent further discomfort. 

  • Common mistakes while taping: You do not want to place the tape over any broken skin as this may create an open wound and more pain. The tape should be applied with the correct tension and in the right direction for the desired effect.

  • Safety Tips: Before applying, clean the skin area to prevent irritation or infection. Always remove the tape when it becomes wet or contaminated to prevent reaction.

Benefits of Taping for Sever's Disease

 

Those experiencing heel pain with severs disease, may be hesitant to participate in any activities. Taping helps alleviate symptoms although will not cure the disease. 

Taping can temporarily:

- Provide support

- Reduce pressure on the Achilles tendon

- Prevent further injury

- Relieve pain 

- Heel support while active

Taping methods for severs disease include dynamic taping and kinesiology taping. Dynamic taping aims to control the load through the Achilles tendon by creating a compressive affect around the growth plate. The step-by-step guide we shared is kinesiology tapping, this method promotes mobility by relieving muscle and improving blood flow. Find out more on how to use kinesiology tape here

You can learn more about other taping methods here

 

 

Other Treatments for Sever's Disease

  • - Stretching Pain Relief 
    Try calf stretches daily to reduce strain on the heel. Always be mindful of not triggering any more pain. A physiotherapist can guide you in muscle strengthening to target the right muscles and tendons.

  • - Orthotics
    Custom orthotics can help address issues and provide more daily support. Ensuring you are wearing the correct shoe will help minimise the pain. Find out more here.
  •  
  • - Ice Therapy 
    Applying an ice pack to the heel for 20 minutes after an activity or any flare up, can help reduce swelling and minimise the pain.

  • - Rest
    It’s important to allow the rest, especially if flare ups are happening more frequently. Limiting running and jumping, especially in sports, will take pressure of the heel and prevent further aggravation.

  • - Physical therapy A physiotherapist can provide stretching and exercises along with professional advice. This will ensure the child is receiving the right support for their needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sever's Disease Taping

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