Heel Pain in Children
Heel pain is one of the most common complaints in children who present to our sports podiatry clinic in Bardon. It affects kids of all ages and activity levels — from recreational players to elite junior athletes — and it is frequently mismanaged because the underlying cause is never properly identified.
Book Online with our Sports Podiatrists (click here)
Why the Correct Diagnosis Matters
There are many different injuries that cause heel pain in children, and each one is treated differently. Some conditions require no rest from sport at all — just the right footwear, orthotics or load management. Others require a period in a walking Aircast moonboot to allow healing. Treating the wrong condition with the wrong approach doesn't just fail to help — it can delay recovery by months.
Common causes of heel pain in children that we diagnose and treat include:
- Achilles attachment injuries (Insertional Achilles Tendonitis) — pain at the back of the heel where the Achilles tendon meets the bone
- Plantar fasciitis — pain under the heel and arch
- Stress reactions — bone stress in the heel from high training loads
- Sever's disease (calcaneal apophysitis) — inflammation of the heel growth plate in active children aged 8–13
- Nerve compressions — including Baxter's nerve, causing burning or sharp heel pain
- Adventitial bursitis — inflammation of a fluid-filled sac around the heel
This is not an exhaustive list — and importantly, more than one condition can be present at the same time.
Footwear Makes a Bigger Difference Than Most People Realise
One of the things that genuinely differentiates our approach is the depth of sport-specific footwear knowledge we bring to every diagnosis. Simple design differences between football boots, netball shoes and running shoes can make a significant difference to certain injuries — and getting this wrong can undo everything else.
For example:
- Football boots and plantar fasciitis — A stiffer shank in a football boot dramatically reduces strain through the plantar fascia. For a child with plantar fasciitis, boot selection alone can be the difference between playing through the season or sitting on the sideline.
- Back of heel injuries and boot heel height — The heel height built into a football boot affects the load on the Achilles attachment. Boots like certain Asics models with a higher heel pitch can significantly reduce pain for children with insertional Achilles injuries or Sever's disease.
- Netball and running shoes — Matching the right support type to your child's foot structure and specific injury is critical. The wrong shoe for the wrong foot in the wrong sport can perpetuate an injury indefinitely.
We diagnose the condition, assess the biomechanics, and then match the footwear recommendation to both — not just to a generic foot type.
Getting Back to Sport as Fast as Possible
Our priority is always an accurate clinical diagnosis first, followed by the most efficient and effective treatment pathway to return your child to sport. We don't default to rest — we find the cause and treat it directly.
"Kids shouldn't just be told to stop playing sport and wait it out. With the right diagnosis and the right treatments, which might include footwear and orthotic support, most children are back to full activity within weeks."
— Peter Charles, Sports Podiatrist & Owner, Shoes Feet Gear Bardon
Our Bardon clinic serves families from Paddington, Ashgrove, Toowong, Red Hill and across Brisbane's inner west. Select a condition below for detailed information, or book online today.
- Sever's Disease — diagnosis, treatments, stretching, exercises and footwear advice
- Insertional Achilles Tendonitis — same presentation as Sever's Disease
- Plantar Fasciitis — pain under the heel and arch
- Stress Reactions and Stress Fractures
- Nerve Compressions — Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome and Baxter's Nerve