Focused Sever’s Disease Management For Active Kids.
At The Severs Centre, we focus exclusively on the assessment and management of Sever’s disease and adolescent heel pain.
Sever’s disease can significantly impact a child’s ability to participate in sport, training, and everyday activity. Many families come to us after months of ongoing heel pain and frustration trying different management approaches with varying results.
Our approach is designed around reducing repeated heel loading during sport and activity, using clinical assessment, education, activity guidance, and the Solemaids semi-custom biomechanical insert where clinically appropriate.
Does This Sound Like Your Child?
Complaining of sore heels either during or after their sport training and games
A noticable change to their walking or running gait
Limping after they have done a bout of physical activity
Walking on their toes or the side of their feet
Frustrated, upset, and often reduced to tears because of the pain
What Is Sever’s Disease?
Sever’s Disease is the most common cause of heel pain in kids aged 8-14.
Understanding Sever’s Disease
If you’re like most parents, you’ve probably been told:
“It’s just tight calves, try a stretching and exercise program”
“Just get your child to rest for a few weeks”
“Use these heel lifts/wedges/cups”
Historically, Sever’s disease has often been managed using approaches focused on stretching, heel cushioning, rest, taping, or activity reduction.
Current biomechanical research suggests repeated impact and loading through the heel may play an important role in symptom development for many active children.
At The Severs Centre, our management approach focuses on reducing repeated heel loading during activity while helping families better understand how to manage symptoms and activity levels appropriately.
Every child is different, which is why treatment recommendations are tailored to the individual child, their symptoms, sport participation, footwear, and activity demands.
The Solemaids Semi-Custom Biomechanical Insert.
The Solemaids semi-custom biomechanical insert is designed specifically for active children with Sever’s disease and adolescent heel pain.
Unlike standard flat insoles or generic heel cushions, the Solemaids insert uses a biomechanical design approach intended to help reduce repeated loading through the heel during sport and activity.
The insert is fitted and modified based on the child’s footwear, foot shape, symptoms, and activity demands.
Why Early Assessment Matters
Heel pain can significantly impact a child’s confidence, enjoyment of sport, and overall activity levels.
Early assessment and appropriate management may help reduce symptom progression and support children in maintaining participation in activity where appropriate.
Children experiencing heel pain may also adapt the way they run, walk, or load through the lower limbs, which can sometimes contribute to other biomechanical issues over time
Here’s What You Can Expect.
When you bring your child to their appointment, here’s what you can expect:
ASSESS
Your child’s clinician will assess:Heel pain symptoms
Activity and sport participation
Footwear
Foot and lower limb biomechanics
Loading patterns and aggravating factors
This allows us to determine whether our management approach may be appropriate for your child.
SOLEMAIDS FITTING
Where clinically appropriate, your child may be fitted with the Solemaids semi-custom biomechanical insert.The insert is selected and modified based on the child’s:
Footwear
Foot shape
Sport demands
Symptom presentation
ACTIVITY GUIDANCE & ONGOING MANAGEMENT
Families are provided with guidance regarding:
Sport and activity modification where required
Footwear considerations
Load management
Expected symptom progression
Ongoing monitoring where appropriate
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sever’s disease (calcaneal apophysitis) is one of the most common causes of heel pain in active children and adolescents.
It commonly develops during growth periods and is often aggravated by running, jumping, and sport participation.
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Common signs may include:
Heel pain during or after sport
Limping after activity
Pain when getting out of bed in the morning
Tenderness around the heel
Difficulty running or jumping comfortably
Symptoms that flare up with increased activity
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Treatment is tailored to the individual child and may include:
Clinical assessment
Education around Sever’s disease
Activity and footwear guidance
Load management advice
Fitting of the Solemaids semi-custom biomechanical insert where clinically appropriate
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Solemaids are a semi-custom biomechanical insert designed specifically for active children with Sever’s disease and adolescent heel pain.
The insert is fitted and modified based on the child’s footwear, symptoms, activity demands, and foot shape.
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Not always.
Management recommendations are based on the individual child’s symptoms, activity levels, and sport demands. Some children may be able to continue participating in modified or monitored activity during management.
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The duration of symptoms varies between children depending on factors such as growth patterns, sport participation, activity levels, and symptom severity.
Some children improve relatively quickly, while others may require longer-term management and monitoring.
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Sever’s disease is a common growth-related condition and does not usually cause permanent damage. However, ongoing heel pain can significantly impact a child’s sport participation, confidence, and activity levels if not appropriately managed.
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You must bring:
The shoes your child commonly wears for sport
School shoes if relevant
Any existing inserts or heel cups
Comfortable clothing suitable for assessment
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An assessment with one of our clinicians can help determine whether our management approach may be appropriate for your child’s symptoms, activity levels, and sport participation.
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Yes, you can use your private health insurance for the appointment.
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No referral is required to book an appointment at The Severs Centre.
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Solemaids only need to be worn for a period of 6 months before they can be phased out of your child’s shoe. For the majority of children, they are able to go 6 months in their sporting shoes/boots without needing to get bigger ones! If their foot does grow substantially during that time & they go up a shoe size, they will require a larger pair of Solemaids.
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No, the Solemaids do not fit in shoes along with orthotics. The treatment plan we suggest in this instance is for your child to wear Solemaids while they are doing their sport training & games, and wear their orthotics day to day. This way, both the Sever’s pain and the arch issues are getting addressed.
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No, not at all. The Solemaids are designed with a subtle rocking element to them, allowing your child to maintain their natural foot strike as they walk & run.