Severs disease is a very common condition that strikes children between the ages of 10-15. Severs disease is an inflammation of the growth plate in the heel caused by constant pounding stress and strain placed on the heel. It tends to predominantly strike children who play sports such as soccer, basketball or football; sports that place constant stress and strain on the heel. There are many treatments for Severs disease ranging from rest to insoles to changes in shoe gear. One of the treatments for Severs disease is to wear orthotics or insoles. What do you look for in an orthotic or insole for a child with Severs disease? You are looking for two properties. One is a deep heel cup to help controll sheering forces on your growth plate to reduce your pain. The second trait you look for is padding; you want the orthotic to be able to take stress off the heel. Below I have listed what I believe are the best orthotics for children with Severs disease.
Now the best orthotic for children with Severs disease is a custom made orthotic by a Podiatrist. The Podiatrist will take a mold of your foot and create a custom orthotic specifically designed for your foot. These orthotics can occasionally be covered by insurance. If not they can range as high as $650. However, there are companies that will make one for you for as low as $95. Here is an example:
Now I recommend starting with an over the counter orthotic first to see if this cheaper option can take care of your child’s problem first. A lot of times these orthotics listed below will be successful at 1/5 the cost. Here are orthotics I recommend for children with Severs disease:
Spenco Kids Polysorb Premium Insoles– Remember what I said earlier about cushioning. This orthotic provides cushioning as you can see. Memory foam adjusts for customized cushioning for the entire foot. Molded polyurethane base absorbs shock and supports the arch and heel. The one draw back of this heel is the lack of a deep heel cup, but if your child suffers from Severs disease this is an orthotic you can give a try too.
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Pedag 122 Joy Full Lenth– This orthotic is the opposite of the Spenco Kids orthotic. While it does not have the type of cushioning generally recommended, it posesses the deep heel cup I discussed earlier.
Power step Powerkids Pediatric Orthotic Supports– This is my favorite of the chidren’s orthotics for Severs disease. This orthotic has a deep heel cup but also has a Poron top cover to help reduce strain felt across the heel. This orthotic in my opinion gives you the best of both worlds: