How to Stop Heel Pain for Kids Who Play Basketball – These Shoes Can Help Eliminate the Pain!

Children who are involved in sports are more prone to developing heel pain, as they are imposing an enormous amount of stress on their feet. I have noticed how children who play basketball are usually more susceptible to experiencing heel pain, as they are constantly jumping and running back and forth on the hard resilient court floor. Let me show you how to stop heel pain for kids who play basketball.

I always emphasize to parents how children should not be having foot or heel pain unless they have had an injury. I wanted to mention this because some parents are told by their pediatricians that the pain will resolve on its own. While for some children the pain might simply go away, for some others it does not.

It’s important for parents to be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their children’s foot conditions. Waiting for the condition to resolve on its own might simply lead to the condition getting worse.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience

I want to point out that I have helped several children who were experiencing heel pain from playing basketball. I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for the last 10 years that specializes on helping children with foot and leg problems. Over the years I became familiar with the best sport shoes for children with heel pain.

Have you noticed your child hobble or limp off the basketball court and complain of sore heels near the end of the activity? As the condition progresses, your child may complain of pain during basketball practice and games and in severe cases prior to sporting activities.

The constant impact between the feet and the floor usually leads to heel pain. This pain can be worsened by increases in the frequency of practices and games. The pain usually happens in children who play basketball regularly but it can also occur in children who are mildly active as well.

If your child has been complaining about heel pain then it’s highly likely that your child developed a condition called Sever’s disease, or pediatric calcaneal apophysitis. This condition is the most common cause of heel pain in children and is basically an overuse injury caused by repetitive micro trauma during sports or running activities.

If a doctor diagnosed your child with Sever’s disease but your child wants to keep playing the game he/she loves, there are steps you can take for your child to avoid the pain during/after practices and games. The first step is to start by making sure you get the right basketball shoe. The key is to find a pair of basketball shoes that provides targeted support right below your child’s heels. This will help protect and cushion your child’s heels, by minimizing the impact that the feet take when they come in contact with the hard resilient basketball court floor.

What Makes the Basketball Shoes I Recommend Effective for Preventing Heel Pain?

1️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: This feature is going to support and protect your child’s heels. The firmer the heel counter is, the better support it provides. The basketball shoes I recommend come with extra padding right below the heels to protect and support them. Let me show you the difference between one of the basketball shoes I recommend and a different style.

Do you notice how the basketball shoe on the right has a lot more padding below the heel area compared to the basketball shoe on the left?

2️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: This feature is going to help minimize the impact that your kids’ feet take when they come in contact with the hard resilient court floor. Do you notice how the basketball shoe on the right has a much thicker/supportive outsole compared to the basketball shoe on the left?

There is only a small selection of basketball shoes for kids that provide these 2 features, but the good news is that I will help you find them!

Are You 100% Sure of Your Child’s Foot Size? – Let’s Find Out!

Before I provide you with a selection of the best basketball shoes for kids with heel pain you should know that proper fit is imperative. If you provide your child with basketball shoes that are too short or too narrow the toes will be squeezed, exacerbating the pain of this debilitating condition. Make sure you order a basketball shoe that fits just right – not too tight but also not too loose.

To assist parents in ordering the correct shoe size online for their children I created an article called:

How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width

Appropriate, well-fitting shoe wear specific for basketball can prevent heel problems. The basketball shoes below have proven to be the most effective ones for children suffering from heel pain.

Best Basketball Shoes for Kids with Heel Pain ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Check below the description of the shoes to check if it’s available in different widths (M= Medium Feet, W= Wide Feet). Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

What Shoe Size Should You Order?

In each of the descriptions of the basketball shoes, I indicate whether you need to order a half size or a whole size bigger than your child’s foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.

In addition to providing excellent heel support these basketball shoes provide these 2 important additional features:

1️⃣ Excellent traction to allow your child to make sudden stops and quick direction changes without slipping.

2️⃣ Lightweight and flexible to prevent your child’s feet and legs from easily getting tired.

How to Tie Your Kids’ Basketball Shoes the Correct Way!

I usually notice how most children don’t like to use all of the eyelets (shoe holes) on their shoes. It’s important that you use all of the eyelets because this is going to help secure your child’s heels and support them better. Below you can see what I am referring to:

Make sure that you tie your kids’ basketball shoes properly as the tighter you make them (without making them uncomfortable tight) the better support and stability your child will get from the shoes. Take a look at the article below to find out how to tie your kids’ basketball shoes to reduce heel pain:

How to Tie Shoes for Heel Pain – The Most Effective Way!

Can Heel Pain from Sever’s Disease be Cured?

Unfortunately, it can’t be cured, the only way to cure it is time. In the meantime, you can provide your child with supportive basketball shoes to prevent him/her from having to deal with heel pain before, during, and after basketball games and practices.

Eventually, as the child matures and passes through the growth cycles the pain will go away.

What to Do if the Pain Persists After Trying These Shoes?

If your child tries any of the shoes I recommend for a month and the pain doesn’t significantly reduces or gets fully eliminated then there is one other step we can take to reduce the pain.

At this point, I recommend fitting a pair of heel cups inside your kids’ basketball shoes. Heel cups act as shock absorbers for your child’s feet and they are extremely effective in treating heel pain.

There is actually one specific heel cup that I recommend as it offers superior shock absorption, protects the heel, and prevents foot fatigue. This is one of the most advanced shock-absorbing heel cups available today and will significantly reduce or fully eliminate your child’s heel pain. You can easily place this heel cup inside your child’s basketball shoes.

Heel cups are easy to fit inside shoes but if you happen to need further clarification on how to fit them you can refer to the article below:

How to Fit Heel Cups – The Most Effective Way to Fit Heel Cups Inside Your Kids’ Shoes!

Is Your Child Limping or Walking Differently?

Sometimes heel pain can be so severe that you might notice your child limping after practice or games. You can decrease the pain by temporarily decreasing your child’s activity level, in terms of frequency and/or duration. However, for some children, this is not an option, and it shouldn’t be, as they should be able to play the sports they love.

The good news is that Sever’s disease will go away when your child’s growth plate in the lower back of the heel closes, which is usually between the ages of 14 and 16 years old. In the meantime, I am going to provide you with the most effective way to stop your child’s heel pain so your child can continue playing without experiencing any discomfort.

Pain at the bottom or back of your child’s heel is a warning sign not to be ignored. Make sure that you have your child stretch regularly and take necessary rest after basketball practice and basketball games. Stretching, wearing sport specific shoes, and taking necessary rest after basketball games and practices are simple steps you can take that can make a world of difference.

If there is a different basketball shoe style that has worked well in reducing or fully eliminating your child’s heel pain please let us know in the comment section below, so other families can benefit from your experiences.