MD Podiatrist Discusses Overuse Injuries in Children

“Overuse injuries are mainly just that they’re doing too much of a particular activity, and they tend to get tendonitis or joint inflammation,” says Dan Michaels, DPM. “In an adult or an older teenager, you may think of the basic plantar fasciitis. In the younger population, and by younger, I mean usually under 11 or 12, growth plate injuries are very common, with kids complaining of heel pain or medial arch pain.” 

Whether they complain of pain or not, younger children who start to limp at the beginning of practice or right after practicing could be experiencing growth plate inflammation. “If a kid’s saying, ‘My heel really hurts,’ and if there’s limping, they probably should be seen by a professional to evaluate it,” says Dr. Michaels. An x-ray will show whether there is a growth plate injury, which will determine the course of treatment. The most common growth plate injuries involve the heel, followed by the medial arch.