Can Shockwave Therapy Help with Sever’s Disease?
Heel pain is very common among active children, especially those who play sports like soccer, basketball, or track. One of the most frequent causes is Sever’s disease, a condition linked to growth and activity.
Most parents are familiar with rest, ice, and supportive shoes as treatments, but some wonder what other options are available. In this blog, we will discuss an advanced option called Shockwave Therapy—often used for adults, it can help kids recover faster and get back to the sports they love.
What Is Sever’s Disease?
Sever’s disease occurs when the growth plate in the heel becomes irritated or inflamed. This happens because, during growth spurts, the bones grow faster than the tendons and muscles can keep up. The repeated pulling on the heel’s growth plate leads to pain and soreness.
Common symptoms include:
- Heel pain after running, jumping, or sports
- Stiffness in the feet when taking the first steps in the morning
- Limping or walking on tiptoes to avoid pain
- Discomfort that improves with rest but returns during activity
How Shockwave Therapy Can Help with Heel Pain
Shockwave EPAT (Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology)** is a modern, non-invasive treatment that uses pressure waves to stimulate the body’s natural healing process. It’s a gentle form of shockwave therapy that is commonly used to treat foot conditions, like heel pain, Achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis—and can also help with Sever’s disease when symptoms don’t improve with rest and stretching alone.
Here’s how it works:
- EPAT delivers low-intensity acoustic pressure waves to the affected heel area.
- These waves increase blood circulation, enhance tissue regeneration, and help reduce inflammation and pain.
- The treatment encourages the body to heal itself—without medication, injections, or surgery.
Benefits of Shockwave Therapy for Heel Pain in Children
- Non-invasive and gentle: No needles, incisions, or anesthesia, just targeted sound waves that encourage natural healing.
- Fast and convenient: Treatments are quick and there’s no downtime, so your child can usually return to normal activities right away.
- Promotes faster recovery: Helps improve blood flow and tissue repair, which can speed up healing.
Your podiatrist will carefully assess whether Shockwave Therapy is right for your child’s condition and growth stage. When used appropriately, this gentle and targeted therapy can help ease heel pain and support a faster, safer return to normal activities.
Get Personalized Advice
For children struggling with stubborn heel pain from Sever’s disease, Shockwave Therapy may provide a safe, effective option, especially when other treatments haven’t provided enough relief.
If your child’s heel pain keeps coming back or limits their activity, don’t ignore it—reach out to a podiatrist near you. Serving Worcester, Westborough, and surrounding Massachusetts communities, our highly experienced podiatrists in Central Massachusetts Podiatry can tailor a treatment plan for your child according to their specific needs. Schedule an appointment today.
