Growth plate in heel pain: what to know

A growth plate is an area of developing tissue near the end of a child’s bone. In the heel, repeated loading can irritate this area while the foot is still growing. Pain may be felt at the back or underside of the heel and can worsen during sport, stairs, or walking barefoot. Symptoms may settle with rest and return when activity increases.

Heel pain has other possible explanations. Achilles Tendinitis can affect the tendon above the heel, while Plantar Fasciitis is commonly felt along the sole. A clinician may also consider Sever's Disease, Stress Fracture, or Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome based on the child’s age, activity, examination, and pain pattern.

Reduce running, jumping, and hills for a short period without forcing complete inactivity. Choose comfortable shoes with cushioning, and use cold over a cloth after activity if it feels soothing. Gentle calf and foot exercises should stay within a comfortable range; stop if they increase pain. A physiotherapist can guide a gradual return to sport and check movement, strength, and footwear.

Keep a simple record of which activities bring on pain. Custom Orthotics may be discussed when foot mechanics add strain, but they are not suitable for every child. Do not rely on PRP Injection or other procedures without a clinician’s assessment of the actual cause.

Arrange an assessment if pain lasts despite reducing aggravating activity, keeps returning, causes limping, or limits school or sport. Seek prompt medical care after a significant injury, when the child cannot bear weight, or if the heel is markedly swollen, red, hot, numb, or accompanied by fever. These features need examination because they can point to an injury or problem beyond routine growth-related irritation.

Ask what structure appears to be painful, whether imaging is needed, which activities are acceptable now, and how to build back to sport. Ask how shoes, inserts, calf flexibility, and training volume may affect symptoms, and what change should prompt an earlier review.