Last reviewed: September 29, 2026

Often yes, if the pain is mild and your child is not limping. Complete rest is usually not needed.

Sever’s disease is heel pain at the growth area at the back of the heel bone, where the Achilles tendon pulls. It is common in children about 9 to 13 years old who play running and jumping sports.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a child without a lot of pain or a limp may be able to keep playing. Pediatric guidance suggests cutting back on running and jumping, and playing one running or jumping sport at a time. When pain is severe, a walking boot or cast is sometimes used for a short time.

An episode usually settles within a few weeks to several months. It can come back, often when sports pick up again. It stops once the heel bone finishes growing, usually by about age 12 to 13 in girls and 13 to 14 in boys. No study has followed children with Sever’s disease into adulthood. Pediatric orthopedic guidance says it should not cause problems in adult life.

In trials, most children improved whatever they tried. In a Dutch trial, children who used a heel insert, did supervised exercises or simply waited all had less heel pain after three months. There was no clear difference between the three. In an Australian trial, heel raises helped function slightly more than ready-made insoles in the first two months. By one year, no option was better. In small Swedish studies of boys, heel cups relieved pain while the boys kept playing at their usual level. A review of all the trials rated most of this evidence as low or very low certainty.

Children in barefoot sports, such as gymnastics or dance, cannot wear heel cups. In one small trial, two heel braces made for barefoot sports did about equally well.

In general:

  • Heel cups or heel raises in sports shoes and cleats, and calf stretches, are simple first steps.
  • A limp, or pain that keeps your child from playing, is a reason to cut back and see your child’s doctor.
  • Other problems, including bone infection, can look like Sever’s disease. Heel pain with fever, swelling or redness, or pain that does not settle, is worth having checked.

Drafted with AI assistance from published sources, reviewed and edited by Babak Sheikh, MD.

Sources:

This is general information about what published research shows. It is not medical advice and it is not about your situation. Reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship with me. I am a retired orthopedic surgeon and I do not see patients. Talk with your own doctor before changing anything about your care. If something feels suddenly or seriously wrong, get medical care promptly rather than waiting.

This page is provided as is. I make no guarantee that it is accurate, complete or current, and medical evidence changes. Use of it is at your own risk.

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