Question
I have a 12 year old son who plays soccer. He practices on Mondays and Fridays and doesn't seem to have any problems with his feet. On Sundays he plays his game where he runs constantly. About 20 minutes after the game his right heel starts to hurt and over the next couple of hours it gets so bad he has a hard time walking. His heal seems to be a little swollen. The next day he can walk normally again but there is still some pain. After a couple of days he seems to be o.k. This is happening every week. Can you give me some advice?

Answer
Hi Bryan,

Sounds like a condition known as Calcaneal apophysitis.  This is inflammation of the growth plate in the heel.  It oftens gets worse with more activity.  This is a common problem in kids that are 12.

Typical treatment includes heel cups, ice, stretching and anti-inflammtory medication.  You can take him to see a Podiatrist for treatment.  They will also take an x-ray to make sure the cause is not another medical problem.

See the info below:
http://www.thetampapodiatrist.com/document_disorders.cfm?id=191

Good Luck.

Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
www.thetampapodiatrist.com
www.tampacryosurgery.com
www.fix-my-foot.com

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