Plantar fasciitis in children
Plantar fasciitis (plan·tar - fas·ci·i·tis) in children is an overuse injury that causes the plantar fascia (tendon on the bottom of the foot that connects the heel bone to the front of the foot) to ache.
What is plantar fasciitis in children?
Plantar fasciitis heel pain typically occurs in young athletes that participate in sports involving a lot of jumping or running — such as dancers, long-distance runners and basketball players.
Plantar fasciitis is an overuse injury in children.
The plantar fascia or arch tendon suffers trauma with every impact, causing it to swell and ache.
What are the signs and symptoms of plantar fasciitis in children?
Symptoms will depend on the type and severity of the plantar fasciitis.
Symptoms can include:
Pain at the bottom of the foot near the heel
Pain that worsens as the day goes on
Pain while stretching
Pain that increases at night
Pain that is significantly worse after activity
Pain that increases after standing for long periods of time
Pain that increases when the arch or sides of the foot are touched
Pain that is worse in the morning and improves after walking or stretching
What are the causes of plantar fasciitis in children?
Plantar fasciitis is caused by the following:
Extra weight putting pressure on the feet
High-impact pressure or stress activities
High arches, flat feet or other issues impacting the feet
Improper stretching (warming up and cooling down)
Improper footwear that doesn’t offer enough support or doesn’t properly fit
Jobs that involve standing or walking on hard surfaces for long hours
Tight calf muscles