Young Athletes and Heel Pain

Young Athletes and Heel Pain

by | Apr 7, 2026 | Sports Medicine

Skeletally immature athletes, those that are still growing, have unique conditions that occur in the growth centers of the bones. Heel pain in adults is caused by different issues because their growth centers are closed. Sports medicine physician Jacob C. Jones, M.D., RMSK, says, “This is one of the most common conditions we see in the developing athlete. Though it is a condition that does not have lasting problems or require aggressive treatment, it can really disrupt an athlete’s training and competition. Following guidance for rest, cross-training, improving ankle mobility and delaying specialization can help to keep the heels game-ready.”

What are growth centers? 
The medical term for a growth center is a physis. The physis is an area of the bone that has soft tissue called cartilage that is later replaced by new bone cells. Some are areas where bone growth makes bones longer. Others, called apophyses, give the bones a unique shape. These growth centers are found in the elbow, pelvis, heel and other areas. The apophyses are attachment sites for tendons.

What growth center is in the heel?
The calcaneal apophysis is in the calcaneus (heel bone). The apophysis is the attachment site for the very strong tendon from the calf muscle, called the Achilles tendon.

What causes heel pain in the calcaneal apophysis?
Children become more committed to sports around 8-12 years old. With running, or repetitive jumping, the Achilles tendon pulls on the cartilage in the heel. This, accompanied by the impact on the ground with running and jumping, can lead to irritation in this area. Because this has a gradual onset, this is referred to as an overuse injury and is often referred to as Sever’s disease.

What is Sever’s Disease?
Sever’s disease, or calcaneal apophysitis, is a type of overuse injury and the most common cause of heel pain in active children ages 8-12. It is caused by repetitive movements, like running and jumping and may occur in only one or both sides. The pain is usually not related to a specific injury and comes on gradually.

What is the treatment for Sever’s disease?
Changing shoes or adding heel cups may be recommended to help with comfort during recovery. Simple ankle stretching exercises may also be helpful. Other treatments are available and should be considered on an individual basis, but rest is the most common prescription for this condition. Returning to a sport and other physical activity may gradually prevent recurrence. Pain may last months to years and may come back or worsen with increased sport or activity.

How long does Sever’s disease last?
Sever’s disease will resolve with completion of growth in this area. Because the growth plate is soft until it is closed, this problem can happen again in this age group. Pain in this area typically resolves by the mid-teenage years.

What factors may increase risk of initial or recurrent Sever’s Disease?

  • Playing sports on a hard surface or barefoot.
  • Footwear with poor cushioning, such as soccer cleats.
  • Year-round sports participation.
  • Sudden increase in training intensity.
  • Increase in duration or frequency of activity, such as tournaments and camps.
  • Tight Achilles tendon or calf muscle.

Learn more about Sever’s disease in this popular short lecture featuring sports medicine physician Jane S. Chung, M.D.

Serving Up a Comeback: How Adriana and Dr. Chung Tackled Lumbar Spondylolysis

Serving Up a Comeback: How Adriana and Dr. Chung Tackled Lumbar Spondylolysis

by | Mar 27, 2026 | Sports Medicine

For 15-year-old Adriana of Prosper, Texas, volleyball is more than a sport. It is a bond she shares with her twin sister, Sofia. After years of playing together at home and school, the sisters joined a beach volleyball club dedicated to helping junior athletes develop their skills. But by midseason, Adriana’s dreams were sidelined by an unrelenting pain in her lower back.

“It started during practice when I was serving,” Adriana says. “At first, it just felt sore, but then it felt like something was stabbing me in the back.” Before long, the pain made even simple activities, like climbing stairs, difficult. A visit to Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center in Frisco led to an evaluation with pediatric sports medicine physician Jane S. Chung, M.D. During the initial exam, Dr. Chung was concerned about a possible stress fracture in Adriana’s lower back. An MRI confirmed lumbar spondylolysis — a stress fracture in the lower spine caused by overuse.

“This type of injury is especially common in young adolescent athletes who participate in sports involving repetitive hyperextension, arching and twisting movements of the lower spine,” Dr. Chung says. “Overhead movements such as serving, blocking and hitting cause repetitive arching of the lower back in volleyball athletes.” Overuse-related stress fractures may also affect athletes in cheer, dance, gymnastics, soccer and football. These injuries need about three months of rest and rehabilitation before a safe and gradual return to play.

“I just thought I strained something or maybe tore a muscle,” Adriana says. “When I learned I’d need to take months off, I was really upset. My season wasn’t over yet, and I still had important games ahead.”

Her treatment included rest, a supportive back brace and a neutral core-specific physical therapy program. Adriana was matched with physical therapist Samantha Plaster, P.T., at Scottish Rite’s Therapy Services location at The Star in Frisco. Plaster had also played beach volleyball.

“I thought it was so great they got us in with a P.T. who played her sport,” says Courtney, Adriana’s mother. “They really took the time to create a connection, and it made a huge difference in her motivation and progress.”

Dr. Chung emphasizes the importance of rest, nutrition, sleep and cross-training for young athletes. “Their growing bodies need time to recover in between the repetitive movements from training and practices,” she says. She also highlights Scottish Rite’s team approach: “Our team works closely together to support each athlete’s unique recovery.”

Although Adriana was disappointed to miss out on playing, she is grateful she took the time to recover. “I’m really glad I listened to my doctors and focused on getting better,” she says. “Now, I feel stronger and more confident about returning to volleyball.”

AP News: Teenage Girls Are Most Likely to Tear Their ACLs

AP News: Teenage Girls Are Most Likely to Tear Their ACLs

by | Mar 4, 2026 | Press Coverage, Sports Medicine

Last year, biomechanical researchers at Scottish Rite for Children began providing high school teams with resources typically only available or affordable at the professional and collegiate levels.

They created pre-season injury-prevention trainings, tailored for female athletes, to improve strength and movement quality. At the start of the eight-week program, each athlete gets a free motion-capture 3D-level assessment to identify weaknesses in strength, movement or balance. Another assessment at the end determines if the program reduced risk.

“My team and I got tired of studying ‘why, why, why’ when there’s so many different possibilities to answer that question. And we wanted to move into the ‘what is the solution,’” said Sophia Ulman, Ph.D., division director of the Movement Science Laboratory.

Read the full AP News story here.

Podcast: Balancing Training, Growth and Play

Podcast: Balancing Training, Growth and Play

by | Dec 12, 2025 | General News, Press Coverage, Sports Medicine

Sports medicine orthopedic surgeon John E. Arvesen, M.D., was invited to share his expertise on the right way to support a young athlete without pushing too hard on the Heaven or Heisman podcast.

In the episode, Arvesen discusses strength and conditioning for kids, preventing overuse injuries during rapid growth phases and the timing of sport specialization. He shares practical tips for recognizing warning signs like persistent pain, swelling or fatigue, balancing recovery with competition and fostering long-term health through sleep, nutrition and rest.

Arvesen also explores the difference between structured, year-round training and play-based, intrinsic specialization that keeps kids engaged without risk of burnout. Whether your child is just starting out or committed to a primary sport, this conversation gives parents tools to guide their athletes wisely and intentionally.

Listen to the full episode to learn more.

Kamryn Serves A Comeback After Knee Injury

Kamryn Serves A Comeback After Knee Injury

by | Dec 3, 2025 | Sports Medicine

Kamryn spends most of her time on the volleyball court, a sport she has loved since high school. She makes an impact at the net as a server for her college’s volleyball team. The talented 19-year-old was recently recognized as an all-conference player, an honor voted on by her teammates and coaches to celebrate her standout performance and presence on the team. Kamryn reflects on her journey back to the sport, highlighting the support she received at Scottish Rite for Children as key to her healing.

During a volleyball game in high school, Kamryn felt a painful sensation in her left knee. Later, her knee began to swell, prompting Kamryn and her family to seek medical attention at a nearby facility in Fort Worth, Texas. Their family decided to seek a second opinion at Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center in Frisco, Texas. Certified pediatric nurse practitioner Chuck Wyatt, M.S., CPNP, RNFA, evaluated Kamryn’s knee, unveiling her true diagnosis. “I was expecting an injury to my meniscus,” Kamryn says. “When the MRI showed that I had OCD, I remember saying, ‘OCD, what is that?’”

OCD, or Osteochondritis dissecans, is a condition that affects the joint, or the place where two bones meet. OCD in the knee occurs when a part of the bone and the cartilage covering it begins to soften, crack or even separate due to a lack of blood supply. This often causes knee pain, joint weakness and swelling. Though it can happen to anyone, OCD is seen frequently in children and teens who participate in sports that require a lot of running or jumping, like volleyball.

After learning the news, Kamryn and her parents discussed a treatment plan with Assistant Chief of Staff Philip L. Wilson, M.D., pediatric orthopedic surgeon and director of the Center for Excellence in Sports Medicine. Together, they decided that surgery was the best option to heal Kamryn’s knee. “I knew if anyone could help me get the best outcome, it would be with Dr. Wilson,” she says.

Dr. Wilson performed surgery to repair the damaged area of cartilage and bone in Kamryn’s knee. After surgery, Kamryn and her family drove from their home in Fort Worth to Frisco weekly for physical therapy. During her sessions with sports physical therapist Rushi Patel, P.T., D.P.T., SCCE, Kamryn did aquatic therapy to regain strength in her knee. She used the therapy pool to regain her range of motion and mobility, as well as completing at-home exercises.

After several months of healing, Kamryn returned to the court to finish her high school years of volleyball. Now, Kamryn majors in nursing with the goal of providing the same level of care that she received to patients in the future. “I never felt fearful that my injury would stop me because I had the best team at Scottish Rite,” Kamryn says. “They gave me the hope and chance to play the sport I love. Now, I hope I can pay it forward to others.”

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NBC 5: ACL Injuries Among Girls Are on the Rise

NBC 5: ACL Injuries Among Girls Are on the Rise

by | Nov 18, 2025 | Press Coverage, Sports Medicine

Movement science researchers at Scottish Rite for Children received a $1 million grant from Lyda Hill Philanthropies to fund, in part, a project that will tackle why teen girls tear their anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs) far more often than others, and it turns out the menstrual cycle may play a big role. Early results show that hormone shifts throughout the cycle can make ligaments looser or muscles less flexible, which can seriously raise the risk of injury.

To help prevent this, athletes are engaging in training sessions that sync with their cycles, while researchers use high-tech motion capture tracking to spot risky movement patterns. The aim is to create smarter injury-prevention and rehab programs and eventually bring this approach to schools across the country.

Watch the full story on NBC 5.