If a child has sore heels, then such a symptom should alert parents. This may be a sign of inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which require immediate treatment. Also, often discomfort in the feet can occur after trauma. With minor injuries, children may not experience pain in the early days. But trauma can affect the well-being of the child after some time. In the article, we will consider the most common causes of pain syndrome and methods of treating pathologies.
Natural causes
Often, a child's heels hurt due to increased physical activity on the legs. Exacerbation of such symptoms is most often noted in the fall. During this period, children resume attending sports after the summer. During long periods of rest and vacation, the legs become weaned from regular exercise. And the resumption of training can lead to the appearance of pain. The discomfort usually goes awayas the body adapts to stress.
If a child has sore heels after playing sports, this may indicate excessive physical activity. In this case, the intensity of training should be reduced, pay close attention to the diet. Deficiency in the body of calcium and vitamin D can provoke pain in the heel region. Also, discomfort in the legs after sports is more common in overweight children and flat feet.
Uncomfortable shoes can also be the cause of pain. In this case, you need to choose an insole with an arch support. This will help reduce the strain on the foot when walking and running.
Pathological causes
However, there are times when discomfort in the feet does not disappear even after reducing physical activity and choosing comfortable shoes. Parents should be alarmed if the child's heels hurt for a long time. The reason for this may be various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Such diseases can be divided into several groups:
- Pathologies inherent in childhood. These include osteochondropathy (Shinz's disease), apophysitis, epiphysitis, inflammation of the Achilles tendon. These diseases are often observed in children aged 7 to 12 years. During this period, the musculoskeletal system of the child continues to form. At the same time, children usually lead a very active lifestyle. A large load on a fragile musculoskeletal system can provoke inflammatorydiseases.
- Injuries. Often, parents suddenly notice that the child's heel hurts and it hurts to step on. This can be caused by various damages. The heel bone is rather fragile, and its traumatization is not always accompanied by a pronounced pain syndrome. Therefore, discomfort in the foot area sometimes occurs not immediately after a fall or injury.
- Diseases rare in childhood. These include bursitis and heel spurs. These pathologies are more typical for adults, but can also occur in children due to past infections, metabolic disorders, or excessive physical exertion. The same group of diseases includes plantar warts (spikelets), which are rare in young children.
Next, we will consider in detail the symptoms and methods of treatment of the above pathologies.
Osteochondropathy
This pathology is otherwise called Schinz's disease. Osteochondropathy of the calcaneus is most common in girls 7-9 years old, and in boys 10-12 years old. The cause of the pathology is increased physical activity and calcium deficiency in the body.
This disease impairs the absorption of nutrients by bone tissue. Because of this, necrotic changes occur in the heel bone. This is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- pain in the heel that gets worse during the day when walking;
- heel swelling;
- limping (the child avoids stepping on the injured leg);
- malaise, fever;
- difficulty in flexion and extensionfeet.
In the acute stage of osteochondropathy, the foot must be provided with complete rest. For fixation, a plaster cast or a special splint with stirrups is used.
Physiotherapy appointments:
- ultrasound;
- electrophoresis;
- applications with ozocerite.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of ointments and tablets are used to relieve pain.
Epiphysitis
It is not uncommon for parents to notice that their child's heels hurt after training. This may be a sign of microdamage to the calcaneal cartilage - epiphysitis. This disease most often affects teenage boys who are intensively involved in sports. Vitamin D deficiency can provoke pathology. It has been established that children living in regions with a cold climate are especially susceptible to this disease. Due to the lack of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the production of vitamin D by the skin is reduced. Therefore, this disease is also called the disease of the North.
With epiphysitis, the child's heel hurts when running, jumping and walking fast. In a state of rest, unpleasant sensations weaken. The pain is localized behind and on the side of the heel, it intensifies when pressed. With severe cartilage damage, swelling and redness may occur. In advanced cases, the child cannot bend the foot, begins to limp.
It is recommended for a sick child to wear orthopedic shoes with soft insoles, a cushion under the heel and arch support. Prescribe a course of treatmentvitamin D supplements and pain relievers. Physiotherapy treatments shown:
- electrophoresis with novocaine and calcium;
- massage;
- baths with therapeutic mud.
Epiphysitis has a favorable prognosis. Signs of this disease completely disappear in adulthood, as cartilage tissues undergo ossification.
Apophysitis
There are cases when the pain syndrome is not observed at rest. Puffiness in the foot area is practically absent. However, the child has pain in the heel when walking. The reason for this may be an inflammatory process in the heel cartilage - apophysitis.
This disease most often occurs in children under the age of 14 who are actively involved in sports. The cartilage tissue in a child is rather weak and easily inflamed with increased load on the legs. Most often, this pathology appears in puberty, when a teenager is growing rapidly.
Apophysitis is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- pain behind and side of the heel;
- discomfort when walking;
- disappearance of pain at rest;
- lack of puffiness (there may be only a slight swelling).
In case of inflammation in the heel cartilage, it is recommended to temporarily stop sports activities. A small patient is prescribed a course of physiotherapy exercises and massage. It is recommended to wear special shoes with soft insoles. Drug therapy consists in prescribing anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, Ibuprofen) and complexes with vitamin D,ascorbic acid and calcium. The disease practically does not occur in adults, as the cartilage undergoes ossification with age.
Inflammation of the Achilles tendon (tenosynovitis)
The Achilles tendon runs along the back of the lower leg. This is the strongest ligament of the human body, which can withstand heavy loads. However, in childhood, with excessive sports activities, inflammation of the tendon often occurs. As a result, the ligament thickens and prevents normal leg extension. The disease is more common in adolescence.
With tendovaginitis, the child's heel hurts and it hurts to step on the foot. Unpleasant sensations can radiate to the foot. The back of the leg looks edematous. The calf muscles are tense. In advanced cases, a creak is heard during movements.
Treatment consists in fixing the diseased limb with an orthosis or elastic bandage. To relieve pain, oral and local anti-inflammatory drugs (Nimesil, Ibuprofen) are prescribed. The imposition of compresses with solutions of novocaine or analgin is also shown.
After relief of acute pain, the child is prescribed a course of physiotherapy:
- magnetic therapy;
- laser treatment;
- electrophoresis;
- mud baths and applications;
- ultrasound.
After the end of treatment, it is recommended to reduce the load on the legs. The child is prescribed a course of rehabilitation exercise therapy.
Injuries
If a child has a heel pain and it hurts to step on his foot, then such symptomscould be a sign of injury:
- fractures;
- bone cracks;
- sprains.
Such injuries are the result of unsuccessful jumps and falls from a height. It is important to remember that the pain of a calcaneus fracture can be quite bearable. Injuries are always accompanied by severe tissue edema. In severe cases, the leg looks deformed. It is urgent to take the child to the emergency room and take an x-ray.
When the calcaneus is fractured, a plaster cast is applied to the leg. If the injury is accompanied by displacement of fragments, then the child must be placed in a hospital. Under anesthesia, the bones are repositioned, and only after that the limb is fixed with plaster. Fracture healing can take up to 6-7 weeks. During the rehabilitation period, the child is prescribed a course of physiotherapy exercises and physiotherapy.
Other diseases
These pathologies are more typical for adults. However, in rare cases, they can occur in children. These diseases include:
- heel spur;
- Achilles bursitis;
- plantar warts (spikelets).
Heel spurs are also known as plantar fasciitis. The disease is accompanied by inflammation and degeneration of the ligament (fascia) of the foot. In advanced cases, pathological outgrowths (osteophytes) appear on the calcaneus, which look like spurs. In the initial stages, the child's heel hurts only in the morning. When osteophytes appear, the pain syndrome becomes permanent and is difficult to stop.
Children with flat feet and overweight are more likely to suffer from this pathology. At an early stage, the heel spur is amenable to conservative therapy. The child is prescribed anti-inflammatory and hormonal ointments, as well as physiotherapy sessions. Operation is shown in advanced cases.
Achilles bursitis most often occurs after an ankle sprain. This disease is accompanied by inflammation of the joint capsule located between the Achilles tendon and the calcaneus. There is pain in the heel and limited mobility of the joint. Pathology very quickly becomes chronic. Patients are prescribed a course of antibiotics, pain medications and shock wave therapy. In severe cases, corticosteroid injections are made into the joint capsule.
Why does the child's heels hurt and growths appear on the foot? The cause of this may be plantar warts (spikelets). This type of papillomas is more often observed in adolescence, but the appearance of growths in childhood is not excluded.
The growth of warts is a consequence of infection with the HPV virus and a decrease in immunity. The child's heels hurt when walking, as he constantly has to step on growths. With plantar warts, the patient is prescribed antiviral drugs and immunomodulators. If papillomas interfere with normal walking, then removal of growths is indicated.
Diagnosis
We found out that there are many reasons why a child's heels hurt. What to do when such a symptom appears? You need to see a pediatric surgeon ororthopedist. Pain in the calcaneus can have a different origin. Only a specialist can identify their etiology.
To clarify the diagnosis, the following examinations are prescribed:
- x-ray of the calcaneus;
- MRI foot and ankle;
- clinical blood and urine tests (to detect inflammation);
- examination of synovial fluid (in the diagnosis of bursitis).
If you suspect plantar warts, you need to consult a dermatologist and take a blood test for papillomavirus.
First Aid
How to help if a child has a heel pain? Only a doctor can treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The choice of the necessary method of therapy will depend entirely on the type of pathology.
However, at the pre-medical stage, you can try to stop the discomfort. If the child has a heel pain, then it is necessary to interrupt sports activities and exclude stress on the legs. Before visiting a doctor, you can apply a cold compress to the affected area. If the pain arose as a result of an unsuccessful jump or fall from a height, then it is necessary to put a splint on the injured limb.
It is undesirable to give the child pain medication before visiting the doctor. This can blur the clinical picture of the disease, and it will be difficult for a specialist to make a correct diagnosis.
Prevention
How to prevent pathologies of the calcaneus and Achilles tendon? To prevent such diseases, it is necessary to adhere tofollowing recommendations:
- Child's sports activities should be moderate. Exhausting workouts with increased load on the legs are contraindicated in childhood.
- Children should regularly include foods rich in calcium and vitamin D in their diet. These substances are necessary for the proper formation and strengthening of bone tissue.
- It is important to ensure that the child wears comfortable shoes with soft insoles and arch supports.
- When pain occurs after falls and bruises of the calcaneus, it is necessary to contact a traumatologist in a timely manner.
- It is very important to pay attention to the weight of the child. Extra pounds create an increased load on cartilage.
- You need to monitor the condition of the skin on the heels. If growths occur on the epidermis, you should immediately visit a dermatologist.
Following these steps will help reduce your risk of heel pain and lameness.
