The symptoms in the child are similar to those in the adult, with more pain during and after activity. An X-ray will help determine the extent of injury, which can be serious enough to require casting the foot and leg for an appropriate time of rest. Anti-inflammatory treatment consists of ice therapy, oral medications and perhaps injection, if the symptoms have been persistent. Secondly, the foot must be controlled to prevent the abnormal stresses. This will help the symptoms at hand, but more importantly, avoid recurrence of the problem.
Control usually begins with some form of arch support.
Cleats notoriously have no cushion in the arch, and the added support may be in the form of an insert from the drugstore, or a custom molded orthotic. Orthotics not only support the arch, but allow the foot to function more efficiently by the custom prescription. We often will tape the foot with a temporary rest strapping as an immediate benefit, as well as a test to determine if orthotic control will be successful. A stretching program for the achilles tendon and arch area is also a necessary complement to treatment. Once Treatment is implemented, it may take as little as a week or as long as three months to completely recover from the heel pain.