Blog
Achilles Tendon Rupture: Recovery Time and What to Expect
Few injuries announce themselves as clearly as a ruptured Achilles tendon. Most people describe a sudden pop or snap in the back of the
Medically Reviewed by
Dr. Peter Hanna, DPM
Board Certified Podiatrist
Your child comes off the field limping, holding the back of one heel. Yesterday’s practice was fine. Today, every step hurts. For many parents, the first fear is a broken bone. The more common explanation, especially in active kids between roughly 8 and 14, is a condition called Sever’s disease.
The name sounds serious, but it describes an irritated growth plate, not a lasting illness. This blog post explains what Sever’s disease is, what it feels like, what triggers it, and how a podiatrist helps. We also cover stretches, sports questions, and why adults get a different kind of heel pain.
Sever’s disease, also called calcaneal apophysitis, is an inflammation of the growth plate in the heel bone. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons calls it one of the most common causes of heel pain in growing children, and notes that it can especially bother kids who are very physically active.
It is caused by repetitive stress to the heel, and it most often appears during growth spurts, when bones, muscles, and tendons change quickly. The same source says children who play running and jumping sports have a higher risk, though less active adolescents can have it too.
A growth plate is a layer of cartilage near the end of a bone where new bone forms. Until a child is fully grown, these plates are softer and weaker than the tendons and ligaments around them, so they are more vulnerable to stress.
The growth plate at the back of the heel is also where the Achilles tendon attaches. Every time the calf muscle pulls during a run or a jump, it tugs on that spot. When a child grows quickly, the tendon can feel tight, and the pull can become irritating.
Boston Children’s Hospital says Sever’s disease most often affects children during adolescent growth spurts. In girls, those growth spurts typically occur between ages 8 and 13, and in boys they tend to occur between ages 10 and 15. Timing varies from child to child.
The same hospital adds that Sever’s disease is rare in older teens, because by late adolescence the growth plates have hardened into solid bone. That detail matters for the question many adults type into search engines, which we answer in a later section.
Cleveland Clinic lists several common signs. Pain may be in one heel or both, and most children report pain in both. Pain often appears when the heel is squeezed or when the child puts weight on it. Other signs include swelling or discoloration, limping or toe walking after running, and heel stiffness after sleeping.
Symptoms often feel worse during or after sports and ease with rest. It also lists flat feet and childhood obesity among other factors that may contribute. If your child describes sharp, new, or one-time pain after a fall, that pattern is different and deserves a prompt check.
Connecticut Children’s describes a mix of triggers that put extra strain on the heel. These include overuse or overtraining, sudden jumps in training intensity, year-round play in a single sport, skipping warm-ups and stretching, tight calf muscles, hard playing surfaces, and shoes with thin soles.
Parents often first notice symptoms when a sports season ramps up, such as the start of soccer or basketball after a break. If that sounds familiar, think back over the last few weeks. A new coach, a tournament weekend, or a new pair of cleats can all be the spark.
Footwear matters more than most families expect. Thin, worn-out, or flat-soled shoes give the heel little cushioning, and hard courts or turf add impact. Cleats are a common culprit, since they can feel stiff and offer limited padding under the heel.
Our guide to running shoes vs. walking shoes explains how cushioning and support differ. If your child also has low arches, our page on flat foot treatment covers how arch support may help the whole foot work better.
Not every young heel injury is Sever’s disease. A stress fracture, a bone bruise, an Achilles problem, or an infection can look similar at first. That is one reason we like to examine the heel in person and not guess from symptoms alone.
X-rays do not usually show Sever’s disease itself, but doctors sometimes order them to rule out other problems such as a fracture. A child who cannot bear weight, who has a fever with heel pain, or who has an obvious injury should be seen sooner, not later.
We begin with your child’s story. When did the pain start, what sports do they play, how many days a week, and what shoes do they wear? We ask whether pain happens during activity, after it, or in the morning.
Then we examine the foot and ankle, pressing on the heel from the sides and the bottom, checking calf and Achilles tightness, and watching your child walk. We may ask them to rise onto their toes. Imaging is added only when it helps rule something else out.
Treatment for Sever’s disease usually starts with reducing the stress on the heel. KidsHealth says a child needs to cut down or avoid all activities that cause pain, and notes that walking and non-weight-bearing exercise such as swimming are usually fine.
It also says kids can go back to sports when the activity no longer causes pain. That is a useful rule of thumb, though your child’s clinician should guide timing. Recovery varies a lot, so we avoid promising a set number of weeks. Pain and function are better guides than the calendar.
Ice can calm a sore heel, and many clinicians suggest it after activity, with a towel between the ice pack and the skin. Over-the-counter pain relievers are sometimes used, but dosing depends on your child’s age and weight, so check with your pediatrician first.
Gel heel cups or cushioned inserts can absorb some of the impact. We also caution against using pain medicine to push through a game. Hiding the pain does not remove the strain on the growth plate, and it can lead to a longer flare.
Tight calf muscles are a common theme, so gentle stretching is a staple of care. A basic calf stretch looks like this. Your child stands facing a wall, steps one foot back with the heel on the floor, and leans forward until a mild pull is felt in the calf and toward the heel.
The stretch should be steady and never painful. Do both legs, and bend the back knee slightly to reach the lower calf muscle too. A clinician or physical therapist can show correct form and how often to repeat it. Our post on Achilles tendonitis stretches and exercises shows related moves.
Once the heel feels calmer, strengthening the calf, ankle, and foot muscles can help the heel handle impact. A physical therapist may design a plan that builds up slowly, starting with simple movements and adding jumping and running in steps.
This gradual return is just as important as the rest period. Many flare-ups happen when a child jumps back into full practice at once. We would rather see a child return to play at a modest pace than rush and end up on the sideline again.
Parents hate sitting a child out, and kids hate it even more. In many cases, a modified plan works better than a full stop. That could mean shorter practices, skipping jumping drills for a while, cross-training with swimming or cycling, or alternating hard and easy days.
If your child limps, cannot finish a normal walk, or has pain at night, we recommend a full break and an exam. Coaches and athletic trainers can help. Our guide to sports foot injuries and recovery and our sports medicine services explain how we support young athletes.
Most families are relieved to hear that Sever’s disease is generally considered a temporary overuse problem that is tied to growth. It is not an infection, it is not a sign of weak bones, and it does not mean your child did something wrong.
Still, the pain is real, and it can affect school, sleep, and sports. Treating it early usually keeps it from dragging on. Because every child is different, we avoid broad promises and focus on a plan that fits your child’s symptoms, activity level, and goals.
One myth says a child should simply push through heel pain because it is just growing pains. Pain that limits play or causes a limp is worth a check, and pushing through can prolong a flare. Another myth says rest means total inactivity.
In many cases, low-impact activity such as swimming or cycling can keep a child moving without stressing the heel. A third myth says expensive shoes fix everything. Good fit and cushioning help, but shoes are one piece of a plan that also includes stretching, activity changes, and follow-up.
Flare-ups can return while a child is still growing, especially after a big jump in activity. A few habits help. Replace worn shoes before they flatten out, warm up before practice, stretch the calves after, and build in rest days between hard sessions and between seasons.
Try to avoid year-round play in a single sport when possible, and increase training gradually. If heel pain comes back, do not wait it out. Early attention to a small flare is easier than treating one that has been ignored for months.
People search for Sever’s disease in adults all the time, so here is the plain answer. Sever’s disease is a condition of growing bones. As covered earlier, it is rare in older teens, and once the heel growth plate has hardened into solid bone, the condition is not expected to occur in adults.
Adult heel pain usually has other causes, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon problems, and heel spurs. Our posts on heel spur vs. plantar fasciitis and plantar fasciitis symptoms can help you sort them out.
We suggest a visit if heel pain does not improve with rest and simple care, if your child limps or has trouble walking, or if pain wakes them at night. The same goes for swelling, redness, or warmth in the heel, or heel pain that does not seem tied to activity.
Heel pain with a fever, or pain after a clear injury, should be checked promptly. Our article on what a podiatrist does explains what to expect, and our pediatric foot and ankle care page covers children’s foot conditions more broadly.
A few notes make the visit more productive for you and for us. Write down when the pain started, which activities bring it on, and what makes it better. Note whether one heel or both hurt, and whether mornings are worse.
Bring your child’s everyday shoes and sports shoes, since the wear pattern tells us a lot. Mention the sports schedule, including practices, games, and any weekend tournaments. Also list any medicines your child takes, and bring questions about school or team activity.
Heel pain is only one way growth shows up in the feet. Kids can also have flat feet, tight Achilles tendons, ankle sprains, or pain near the arch. Having one of these does not mean they have Sever’s disease, and having Sever’s disease does not rule out the others.
That is why a full foot and ankle exam is useful. It helps us treat the real cause, not just the sore spot. If a different problem turns up, we can guide you toward the right next step and explain it in plain language.
If your child has heel pain that keeps them from playing, walking comfortably, or enjoying the day, we can help you find the cause and build a sensible plan. Our podiatrist, Dr. Peter Hanna, sees patients at our Miami practice.
Call us at 833-735-3668 or reach out through our contact page. This article is for general education only and does not replace advice from your child’s doctor. Every child’s situation is different, so please follow your clinician’s recommendations.
Sever’s disease, or calcaneal apophysitis, is an irritation of the growth plate at the back of the heel in growing children. It is caused by repeated stress, often from running and jumping during growth spurts, and it is not a true disease in the usual sense.
The most common sign is heel pain, often in both heels, that gets worse during or after activity. Some children also have swelling, tenderness when the heel is squeezed, limping, toe walking, or stiffness first thing in the morning.
It most often appears during growth spurts, which tend to come a little earlier in girls than in boys. It is uncommon in older teens, because the heel growth plate matures into solid bone as growth finishes.
Adults are not expected to develop it, because the growth plate has closed. Adult heel pain is more often related to plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon irritation, or heel spurs, and it deserves its own evaluation.
Gentle calf and Achilles stretches are most often recommended, such as a standing wall calf stretch done on both legs. They should feel like a mild pull and never cause sharp pain. A clinician can confirm the right form and frequency for your child.
Sometimes, with changes. If pain is mild and your child walks normally, a modified schedule may be reasonable. If there is limping, pain at night, or pain that worsens, rest and an exam are better. Ask your child’s clinician before returning to full play.
Book a visit if the pain does not improve with rest, if your child limps, if there is swelling, redness, or warmth, or if pain wakes them at night. See a doctor promptly after a clear injury or if heel pain comes with a fever.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoInfo): Sever’s Disease
Boston Children’s Hospital: Sever’s Disease
Cleveland Clinic: Sever’s Disease (Calcaneal Apophysitis)
Connecticut Children’s: Sever’s Disease in Kids, Home Remedies vs. When to See a Doctor
Dr. Peter Hanna is a board-certified podiatrist and reconstructive foot & ankle surgeon with over 15 years of experience. He serves as Director of Podiatry at South Florida Multispecialty Medical Group, specializing in complex reconstruction, minimally invasive surgery, and diabetic foot care.
Trust & Transparency: Editorial Policy | Contact Us
More To Explore
Few injuries announce themselves as clearly as a ruptured Achilles tendon. Most people describe a sudden pop or snap in the back of the
You reach for a seat belt, a high shelf or the back of your shirt, and your shoulder stops you cold. Two very common
©2026 South Florida Multispecialty Medical Group. All Rights Reserved.