Sever’s Disease in Kids – STOP Your Kids’ Heel Pain!
Have you noticed your child walking and running differently? Has your child been complaining about heel pain and your medical professional diagnosed your child with a condition called Sever’s disease? While the name might sound a little scary, Sever’s disease is more common than you think in growing children, especially those who are involved in physical activity. The good news is that Sever’s disease in kids can be treated and prevented by wearing supportive shoes.
Stay Away From Unsupportive and Poor-Fitting Shoes
In recent years, physical therapists have noticed a significant increase in overuse injuries among children. Even though there are so many benefits for children to be involved in physical activity, doing too much or wearing the wrong type of shoes might lead to injury. Poor-fitting shoes contribute to the condition because they don’t provide enough support or padding for your kids’ feet. If your child is suffering from heel pain, the first thing you must do is to have them rest the foot until the pain starts to decrease or disappear altogether.
The Importance of Being Proactive
Parents should be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their children’s foot conditions. Leaving your children’s foot conditions untreated can only lead to the condition getting worse.
Sever’s disease is an inflammatory condition of the growth plate in the heel bone and is one of the most common causes of heel pain in children. This condition occurs when children don’t wear supportive shoes and their feet can’t handle the impact that their feet take every time they come in contact with the ground. Another important fact is that this condition commonly occurs in physically active children between the ages of 8 and 14 years of age.
Key Features of Supportive Shoes for Kids with Sever’s Disease
1️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: This feature minimizes the impact that your kids’ feet and legs take every time they come in contact with the ground. Avoid shoes with flimsy and unsupportive outsoles. Below you can see the difference between a shoe with a substantial outsole versus a shoe with an outsole that is too thin and doesn’t provide the correct amount of support:
2️⃣ Firmer Heel Counters: This feature cushions and protects your kids’ heels every time they come in contact with the ground. This is one of the most important features since the heel counter of the shoes it’s the one that provides ankle support. Take a look at the picture below to learn where the heel counter of the shoe is located:
Let me show you the difference between a shoe with a firm heel counter versus a shoe with a soft heel counter. The image on the left shows a shoe with a soft heel counter. When I am pressing in that particular area of the shoe, it feels soft and it flexes. The second image shows a shoe with a firm heel counter.
It is extremely important to provide your kids with the correct pair of shoes if you want to keep their feet and legs healthy, especially if they are involved in sports or high-impact activities.
Are You 100% Sure of Your Child’s Foot Size? – Let’s Find Out!
I created a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home. In that resource you will find out whether your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also be able to determine whether your child has a high instep or not.
Below you can find a selection of the best shoes that prevent and help treat Sever’s disease in kids. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Shoes for Kids with Sever’s Disease (medium and wide feet)
Little Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 3)
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 860v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Ultra Heel design hugs the back of the foot for a snug, supportive fit
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style RaveRun by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Ultra Heel design hugs the back of the foot for a snug, supportive fit
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Padded tongue and collar
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 860 V13 by New Balance on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 860 V13 by New Balance on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style RaveRun by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 860v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style TR14 LTT by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Foam padding placed around your ankle collar and under the tongue for an incredibly comfortable fit and feel
- Comfort sockliner molds to your foot with padding in the heel for ultimate cushioning at heel-strike
- Engineered mesh for structure, stretch and enhanced breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion TR14 LTT by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Foam padding placed around your ankle collar and under the tongue for an incredibly comfortable fit and feel
- Comfort sockliner molds to your foot with padding in the heel for ultimate cushioning at heel-strike
- Engineered mesh for structure, stretch and enhanced breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Big Kid Shoe Sizes (3.5 to 7)
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Ultra Heel design hugs the back of the foot for a snug, supportive fit
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi v4 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Ultra Heel design hugs the back of the foot for a snug, supportive fit
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Kinvara by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Padded tongue and collar
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Kinvara by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Foam padding placed around your ankle collar and under the tongue for an incredibly comfortable fit and feel
- Comfort sockliner molds to your foot with padding in the heel for ultimate cushioning at heel-strike
- Engineered mesh for structure, stretch and enhanced breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style RaveRun by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style RaveRun by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Ultra Heel design hugs the back of the foot for a snug, supportive fit
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 880v12 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Lightweight EVA foam cushioning in the midsole and padded heel increases comfort
- Firm heel counter
- Supportive heel for active kids
- Breathable mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style FuelCell Propel v5 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Kinvara 14 by Saucony on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Lightweight mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Arishi Fresh Foam by New Balance on Amazon
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Lightweight mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Best Shoes for Kids with Sever’s Disease (narrow and medium feet)
Boys
- Order the shoe style Gel-Noosa by Asics on Amazon
- The Asics shoe style Gel-Noosa Tri 13 is available for little and big kids
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Asics shoe style Contend 8 is available for little and big kids
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable insoles
- Rearfoot GEL technology cushioning system
- Breathable
- I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
- Fits children with narrow or medium feet
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Novablast 2 GS by Asics on Zappos
- The Asics shoe style Novablast is available for little and big kids
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable insoles
- Rearfoot GEL technology cushioning system
- Breathable
- I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Kinvara LTT by Saucony on Zappos
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with narrow or medium feet
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Contend 8 by Asics on Amazon
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Girls
- Order the shoe style Gel-Noosa by Asics on Amazon
- The Asics shoe style Gel-Noosa Tri 13 is available for little and big kids
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Firm heel counter with supportive outsole
- Removable insoles
- I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style GEL-Cumulus by Asics on Zappos
- The Asics shoe style Gel-Cumulus 25 is available for little and big kids
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style GEL-Excite 10 by Asics on Amazon
- The Asics shoe style GEL-Noosa Trim 15 is available for little and big kids
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Infused gel for extra cushion and support
- I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Contend 8 by Asics on Amazon
- The Asics shoe style Contend 8 is available for little and big kids
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Firm heel counter with supportive outsole
- Removable insoles
- I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Wind FST by Saucony on Zappos
- The Saucony shoe style Wind is available for little and big kids
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Breathable mesh and synthetic upper
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning in the heel
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
- Fits children with narrow or medium feet
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Padded tongue and collar
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Contact Me for Specific Shoe Recommendations
Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you are unsure about which specific shoe might work best to help prevent your child’s heel pain. I am happy to provide you with specific shoe recommendations tailored to your child’s unique foot shape: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Keep in mind that shoes that come with shoelaces are always going to be more effective in treating heel pain, as your child will get more support and stability from the shoes.
Apply This Shoe Lacing Technique
Once the shoes arrive I recommend that you apply a specific shoe lacing technique that I came up with that will help provide extra support to your child’s heels as well as secure them against the back of the shoes
Why is Your Child Experiencing Heel Pain? – The 5 Most Common Reasons!
The two most common overuse injuries involve the knee and the foot, and if those two parts of the body are not supported and protected by the correct pair of shoes, you will end up creating all sorts of foot and leg problems for your child. Please be aware that the conditions below increase your child’s risk of developing Sever’s disease:
- Flat Feet
- Overpronation
- Short leg syndrome
- Overweight
- Weak Ankles
Most of the time, the child only needs a pair of shoes that provide extra support in the heel area to take care of the problem. However, if your child is already wearing a pair of supportive shoes and the pain persists, then you should try a pair of heel cups for extra cushioning and padding —I will elaborate on which are the best heel cups for kids shortly.
Treatment for Sever’s Disease – Protect your Kids’ Feet!
Remember that the first step to combat Sever’s disease or heel pain is to rest your kids’ feet (this is the primary treatment). Below you can find a list of other successful and proven methods of preventing and treating this condition:
1️⃣ Wearing shoes with arch support and a firm heel counter.
2️⃣ Wearing heel cups that absorb the impact that your kids’ feet and legs receive every time they hit the ground. This will help relieve the stress on your kids’ heels.
3️⃣ Make sure your child is stretching frequently since this will also reduce the stress on the heel.
Heel Cups for Kids – Extra Cushion and Support!
If you have tried a pair of good supportive shoes for your child and the pain persists, it might be time to provide your child with other alternatives. Heel cups are extremely effective in reducing the impact and stress that your kids’ feet receive every time they impact the ground. I have fitted heel cups before at the shoe store that I work for, and they work wonders. Some of the benefits of providing your child with a pair of heel cups are:
- It provides shock absorption.
- It protects the heel.
- It prevents foot fatigue.
- Ideal to treat and prevent general heel pain, plantar fasciitis, Sever’s disease, excessive pronation, Achilles tendonitis
- Innovative multi-cell, multi-layer waffle pattern design, helps to absorb impact pressure (shock) and return impact energy back to the feet
- The extra cushion this heel cup includes reduces and prevents sore heels and shin splints
- Small Size – Fits from a little kid shoe size 10.5 to a big kid shoe size 6. Best for children under 80 lbs.
- Regular Size – Fits big kid shoe size 6 and above. Weight up to 175 lbs.
Take a look at the customer reviews on this product and notice how most parents have found it helpful even for their own feet, so if you have been experiencing heel pain yourself, you might want to give this heel cup a try.
Should Children Who Are Diagnosed with Sever’s Disease Play Sports?
Several parents have asked me whether their children can play sports with Sever’s disease. I always tell them that they can as long as they are wearing the correct type of shoes for that specific sport in the correct shoe size. The consequences of playing a sport in the wrong shoe size or in the wrong type of shoes can lead to injuries that impair growth and lead to long-term health problems for your children.
There are specific sport shoes that come in wide widths (to fit the shape of children with wide or extra wide feet), and that provide more support than others.
If your child is not wearing a sport-specific shoe for any of the sports mentioned above, you are putting them at risk of injury. Some parents don’t buy their kids a sport-specific shoe because they say their feet are too wide for the shoes – which is a big mistake because cleats are available in wide and extra wide widths.
Have you found a particular shoe that has been effective in reducing or fully eliminating your child’s heel pain? Please share your experiences below so other parents can benefit from them.
Thanks for this post! My son is about to turn 12 and is growing out of his men’s size 9.5 Saucony shoes. Any other recs for men’s shoes? (Can’t believe my boy is in men’s sizes already!) TY!
Hello Cristen,
To recommend specific shoes for your son I first need to know his foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide).
Hi wondering if you have any suggestions for a youth baseball cleat for a ten year old with severs? Any brands in general to stay away from? Thank you !!!
Hello Stephanie,
It’s hard to recommend specific shoe brands as there are specific models among each brand that work a to better than others.
If you tell me your child’s foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide), and the country that you are contacting me from I can check what specific baseball cleats you might be able to order.
Hi, my daughter is 13 and has had severs for 1 year. She is a runner and she is very frustrated and discouraged with the extreme pain she gets every time she runs. Weve tried multiple types of heal cups suggested by foot doctors but none seem to help. She wears women’s size 7 1/2 to 8 shoes. She has very narrow feet. What running shoes would you suggest? Also woyld any of the superfeet inserts help? Thank you
Hi Wendy —
I understand your daughter’s frustration.
Please note that if the heels cups are fitted in the wrong pair of shoes then they are going to be ineffective. Below you can find my shoes recommendations. These running shoes provide targeted support to the heel area:
For the first option please choose the narrow width option (N)
Option 1
Option 2
How to Tie Shoes for Kids with Narrow Feet – Make their Shoes Fit and Feel Better!
I recommend that she tries any of these 2 sneakers for a month and if the pain persists then that’s when I recommend fitting a pair of heel cups.
I hope this helps.
Any suggestions for softball cleat? Should we do a turf shoe instead? Daughter is 9 and has pain every season and when she runs while playing on normal day activities. She is 5 feet tall. Not professionally sized. But size 5.
Hi Trish –
There is a particular baseball turf cleat that your daughter can wear to softball. This cleat comes with a firm heel counter and a substantial sole that is going to help reduce the impact that your daughter’s feet take when they come in contact with the ground. I also recommend trying a pair of heel cups inside this cleat. Do you know if your daughter has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet?
Hello! Thanks for all the information. My 12 year old son plays basketball and complains of heal pain. He wears a size 7 – that zone where he is in the largest size kid shoe or the smallest size adult shoe. He is a medium/standard width.
Do you have any recommendations on an everyday shoe (that will still get basketball use in pickup games and outdoor hoop practice) as well as a basketball shoe for actual practice and games. I’v seen both the New Balance 990v5 and the Addias ProBounce recommended. Is this a good pairing? Are there any advantages to the adult versions of these shoes over the kid versions? On a similar note, my son typically wears a low or midtop basketball shoe. He has not gone full hightop yet, but if that is what it takes, I’m sure he is open to it. Thanks!
Hello Bruce –
Yes, the 990V5 and the Adidas Probounce are a good pairing. Your son can wear the 990V5 as an everyday shoe and pickup games.
There are no advantages to the adult versions of the shoes. Your son is still under the kids’ shoe sizes, once he reaches a shoe size 71/2 then he will be officially into men’s sizes. I recommend that you stick with the kids’ version since you will end up saving a lot of money.
The full hightop will provide your son with better ankle and heel support.
Please don’t forget to fit the Tuli’s heel cups inside the shoes and let me know if you have any other questions.
Hi, this is Lainie again we took your advice and ordered, “option one” of the volleyball shoes. They were great, the heels were amazing and every thing was good expect for the foot fit. I realize now that my daughter has a very wide foot or that shoe just ran small. I was wondering if you had another recommendation that was very similar to the first option but had a wider foot space towards the front of the shoe.
Hi Lainie,
We need to find a shoe that comes with a rounder toe-box at the front but has a narrower heel. There are no volleyball shoes available in wide widths, but there is a tennis shoe style that your daughter can wear to play volleyball that provides good ankle support. Please find below my recommendation:
Mizuuno Tennis Shoe for Volleyball
I hope this helps!
To answer your questions, the inserts she has worn in the past are Dr. Scholls pain relief orthotics, she wears vans everyday to school with the heel cups in, though sometimes that makes the pain worse. The inserts she has worn in the past have helped her arch pain, but then it led to heel pain so she stopped wearing them.
Lainie,
Dr. Schools are comfort insoles, despite of what they might say on their package label.
Vans are casual shoes, not everyday shoes and they don’t provide any heel support whatsoever.
In conclusion, your daughter is experiencing heel pain from wearing unsupportive shoes. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Hi, my daughter has been experiencing heel pain for about three years, going into her fourth. We have tried heel cups, compression socks, different shoes, inserts, stretching, strengthening, and nothing has made a difference. I am 5-11, and my husband is 6-7 my daughter is 5-10 and hasn’t hit puberty yet, she is thirteen and a little late on maturing. She wears a size 10 in regular shoes, and she has an EXTREMELY high arch, I have failed to find a shoe that helps her severs as well as her high arch. She played basketball all her life, and now is getting into volleyball. I was wondering if you have any recommendations for a volleyball shoe for her situation or a good insert for her arch.
Hello Lainie,
It seems like you have tried it “all”, but not all heel cups and inserts will provide the same level fo effectiveness. You also need to consider that if your daughter doesn’t wear supportive shoes, then the heels cups and the inserts/orthotic won’t be effective. In addition, the shoes need to be tied properly for your daughter to get the full support from the shoes. There are a lot of factors that play a role when trying to significantly reduce or fully eliminate heel pain.
What type of everyday shoes is your daughter wearing? The shoes need to provide a firm heel counter and extra cushion and padding right below where her heels are. Please feel free to send me a picture of the shoes that your daughter is wearing: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
What shoe inserts have you tried?
Before I send you a recommendation of a volleyball shoe, I need to know whether your daughter has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
Thank you for responding so quickly, my daughter has been wearing the HyperDunk basketball shoes to volleyball practice, I think that the problem may also be that her ankles have no room to breath. She has a medium foot width, and we have tried the foot machine where you get custom inserts for your arch, but none of the inserts have applied to her heel.
Lainie,
The problem is not that her ankles have no room to breathe.
Here are the recommendations for a volleyball shoe:
Option 1
Option 2
I am not sure what do you mean when you say that none of the inserts have applied to her heel. The inserts usually come with a heel cup, and that’s supposed to reduce the impact that the heels take when they come in contact with the ground. Some inserts provide better support than others, that’s why I was asking you which specific inserts you have tried.
I recommend that you start by trying pair of Superfeet inserts, and if the pain persists, then I can recommend a more substantial orthotic.
Superfeet: Green
I want her to tie her shoes the same way it shows in this article:
How To Tie Shoes With Orthotics- Stop Heel Slippage
I am curious to know what type of everyday shoes she wears. They need be supportive or we won’t be able to combat her heel pain.
I love New Balance, but find the remark made that parents who did not buy supportive shoes, is what lead to severs disease to be false information. If this is true what scientific journals, groups of doctors did these studies to prove this information? Severs according to my sons orthopedic surgeon is caused by a sudden growth spurt where the child’s leg muscles do not grow as quickly as they do and pulls and stretches the heel muscles as they grow causing intense pain in their heals. I agree that sportive shoes are needed if the child ends u suffering from this and that it’s good to have shoes with support but it’s not the fault of the parents who did not buy the correct shoe. If it was the disease would be better known because most every child in poverty would suffer from the disease because many parents cannot afford to buy supportive shoes and there are a lot of kids in poverty.
Hello Nicole,
Thank you for sharing. I don’t believe that I mention anywhere on my article that parents who didn’t buy supportive shoes for their children are the ones at fault for their kids experiencing Sever’s disease.
I created this website to help parents make the most informed decision when buying their children’s shoes based on my experience as a shoe fitter, and what I have learned through the last 10 years. Sever’s disease is a type of bone injury that occurs when the heel becomes inflamed and causes pain. Just because a child doesn’t wear supportive shoes it doesn’t mean that he/she will get Sever’s disease. There are a lot of children who wear minimalist shoes or go barefoot and never experience any sort of foot or leg pain, and this is because of the simple fact that they all have a different type of foot anatomy.
If the child is experiencing heel pain, supportive shoes and in some cases orthotics and heel cups are the best way to help treat this condition.
My son is 11 and diagnosed with severs last fall. Aside from severs he also rolled his ankles about 5 times within a year’s period. We purchased the New Balance 860 and he still rolls his ankle a lot. He has also already worn down the fronts of them (tip toe area). Should we just go back to that shoe or do you have another recommendation? He wears a 4 might be in a 4.5 by now though.
Hello Crystal,
The shoe style that I recommend for this condition is the 990 style not the 860. The 990 has a more substantial sole and a firmer heel counter. Please find the style below:
Shoe Style with Extra Ankle Support
Please let me now if you have any questions.
Hi! Thanks for such an informative website. My 10 year old son (size 3, narrow foot) has been complaining about heel pain for several months now and after reading all of this, I’m pretty sure it’s Sever’s related. He plays competitive ice hockey and soccer and recreational basketball, but up until now I haven’t paid much attention to his shoes. Which is a good everyday sneaker for him to wear to run around and play basketball? He has Adidas cleats for soccer. Is there a solution for the ice skates? It’s so hard to tell how much arch support they provide. Would a heel cup help? Thanks in advance!
Hello Amie,
It seems like your child is extremely active, and the sports he plays involve a lot of high impact movements, sudden stops, and quick direction changes.In order to be able to recommend a pair of shoes for your child I will have to know whether he has a narrow, medium, wide, or an extra wide foot.
I am not an expert when it comes to ice skating, but I know a coach who will be able to provide me with the right information.
Heel cups are extremely effective in reducing or fully eliminating heel pain, but they must be fitted correctly in the correct pair of shoes. Once you get back at me with your son’s foot width, I will be able to recommend a pair of shoes and heel cups.
My 10 year old daughter has been struggling with Severs for a couple of years. She is a size 7 to 7 1/2 and plays basketball and runs. I would love recommendations for both running shoes and basketball shoes.
Hello Shay,
You need to look for shoes that come with a firm heel counter and a substantial outsole, to minimize the impact that her feet take every time they come in contact with the ground.
She is in between kids and women’s shoe sizes, which can be a little tricky but you can find my recommendations below.
Running Shoes for Sever’s Disease: Option 1
Running Shoes for Sever’s Disease: Option 2
These shoes are higher priced because they come with extra infused gel, especially around the heel area.
There is one particular basketball shoe style that works great for kids with heel pain. You will be able to fit a heel cup or an orthotic inside the shoe if you have to, since it’s very deep and available in wide widths.
Basketball Shoe for Sever’s Disease: Option 1
I hope this helps!
Thank you so much for the quick response. I think I am going to have to move her up to women’s sizing given how fast she is growing. Would you still recommend the same brands in larger sizes for running and basketball?
Hello Shay,
Yes, look for shoes with extra cushion and support around the heel area. You should consider fitting a pair of heel cups in the basketball shoes if the pain persists.
I hope the helps!
Hi.. Your article is very helpfull for me.. My son 9 years old, he is a badminton player, He’s exercise 6 hours/day from monday to friday. Now he struggle with sever.. Can you help me what shoes is recommed to support his daily badminton activity. His shoes no 4. Thank you
Hello Yulia,
We need to look for shoes that come with a form heel counter, to minimize the impact on your son’s heels every time they come in contact with the ground. The shoes I recommend below come with infused gel that is specifically targeted around the heel of the shoes.
Shoes for Heel Pain: Option 1
Shoes for Heel Pain: Option 2
If after trying these shoes styles the pain persists, then you should consider fitting a heel cup inside your kids’ shoes. You can learn more about the best heel cups for kids here:
Heel Cups for Kids – How to Stop Heel Pain
I hope this helps.
Can you recommend a good women size basketball and volleyball shoe and everyday tennis shoe for my daughter that wears 9 1/2 women’s and has regular width and severs?
Hello Connie,
Here are my recommendations:
Basketball Shoe: Option 1
Volleyball Shoe: Option 1
Everyday Tennis Shoe: Option 1
Everyday Tennis Shoe: Option 2
If the pain persists after wearing any of these shoe styles, please get back at me and I will able to recommend a pair of insoles or a heel cup for extra heel support.
I hope this helps!
Hi, my son has Severs and plays lacrosse. He is a size 5 wide. Do you have a lacrosse cleat you would recommend for him? We’ve been told to buy turf shoes instead of regular cleats. What are your thoughts on that? Thanks!!!
Hello Crysta,
The majority of lacrosse games are played on natural grass/turf. Thus most lacrosse cleats will have molded TPU spikes/studs to offer traction in all conditions. There is a particular cleat that I recommend that comes with a firm heel counter (this will provide ankle support), and you can also fit an orthotic (such as Superfeet) in order to provide extra support for your child’s feet.
Here is the cleat that I am talking about:
Lacrosse Cleat with Extra Support
Please keep in mind that this shoe style is available in wide widths (“W”), which you will have to choose if you want to fit a pair of Superfeet insoles inside the shoes. You can learn more about Superfeet insoles here:
Superfeet Insoles
The blue Superfeet is the one that works with cleats.
I hope this helps!
Your article is very informative. My son is 12 years old and is in so much pain from Sever’s Disease. He has wide feet and is wearing size 11 men’s. What would be the best everyday shoe for him? Also, do you have a recommendation for the best soccer cleats for him? Thanks for your help!
Hello Denise,
Thank you. Here are my recommendations.
Supportive New Balance Shoe Style for Boy in Men’s Sizes: Option 1
Supportive Shoe Style for Boy in Men’s Sizes: Option 2
When it comes to soccer shoes, we need to find a style that comes with a firm heel counter and that is also available in wide widths. Here is my only recommendation:
Soccer Shoe for Boy with Foot Pain
These are the most supportive styles that I have fitted before. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Hi. My daughter is 8 years old and diagnosed with Severs. Can you recommend an everyday shoe, basketball and volleyball shoe for her? She is very tiny at 50lbs and very narrow feet. We have been wearing the heal inserts and it’s made a big difference. Thank you
Hi Dulcey,
Yes I can, but next time please send me your daughter’s shoe size instead of her age. I am assuming she knows how to tie her shoes, and she doesn’t she should learn because it will make a big difference in the way the shoes fit, specially since she has narrow feet. All of the shoes that I recommend below are narrow and come with a firm heel counter (to provide heel support).
Everyday shoes:
Option 1
Option 2
Basketball Shoe:
Option 1
Volleyball Shoe:
Option 1
I hope this helps!
Thanks for all of the information! My son is 8 years old, he plays soccer, football and Lacrosse… what are the best cleats for him? We tried heels cups that were gel but they kept sliding in his cleats. Do the Tulis brand slide around?
Hello Tracy,
You have a pretty active child! There is a particular soccer cleat that is very deep, so it will allow the Tuli’s Heel Cup from sliding. You can find that soccer cleat here:
Soccer Shoes for Kids with Heel Pain – Supportive Shoes with Heel Cups to Stop Your Kids’ Heel Pain!
Once you fit the heel cup in those cleats, there is a particular shoe tying method that will lock his heels and prevent the heel cu from moving around. You can learn about that shoe tying method in an article I wrote called:
How to Tie Shoes with Orthotics – Stop Heel Slippage
I hope this helps!
Hello my son is 12 years old and fighting sever’s disease for 3 years now. He is wearing Tulis heel cups for 1 year now and he has already seen a big differrence now.He is an active basketball player for the past 5 years.We have concerns everytime we have to buy shoes for him if we are getting the proper ones.He has the jordan’s superfly 2017 shoes which he is pretty happy,but I think we need something even better.Can you please reccomend me the best shoes that you think is ideal for my son? Don’t forget to mention that he’s a big footer wearing size 12! Thanks.
Hello Arthur,
In order to help you better I need some extra information.
Do you know your child’s shoe width? I need to know if his feet are narrow, medium, wide or extra wide (that way I can recommend a pair of shoes that will fit the shape of his feet).
I also would like to know if he wears his basketball shoes as his everyday shoes. Are you looking for a basketball shoe or for an athletic everyday running shoe for your child?
Thank you for your very informative article. My daughter was diagnosed with severs several months ago and we have been able to address it with PT and lots of stretching, as well as the heel cups you mention here. She has flare ups but they are not as bad as before.
Would you have a recommendation for shoes for her to play tennis in, on a hard court? She has a wide tow box and narrow heel. We would use the heel cups in the tennis shoes.
Many thanks in advance!
Hello Bettina,
Yes, there is a particular tennis shoe style for kids that have wide feet. You can put the heel cup inside but you MUST make sure you tie the shoes properly because it will make a huge difference in the way the shoes feel and because your daughter has a narrow heel.
Here is the particular shoe style I recommend:
Supportive Tennis Shoes for Kids
Take a look at this post where I describe the best way to tie your kids’ shoes:
How To Tie Shoes With Orthotics – Stop Heel Slippage
I hope this helps!
Thank you so much for this page of information. My 8yr old has just been diagnosed with this painful problem. Your article was really helpful and reassuring.
Hello Virginia,
I am glad that you found the article informative! If you ever have any questions please let me know.