Sever's and Osgood-Schlatter's

There are two conditions that are less common than they once were but still crop up from time to time that affect young athletes (usually boys). The first is Sever's Disease - which is not a disease at all - where the pain is usually felt in the heel. The heel bone is made up of two pieces of cartilage which turn to bone and form a single unit. This fusion usually tales place in the early teens and if it is damaged at that time it can mean missing several weeks of training. It is often brought about by overuse but my own son had it at one point for a different reason. He always called in for a friend on his way to school. Because the friend's house gate was always tied shut to prevent his wee brother from getting out, David jumped the gate and landed on the same heel day after day. With the ossification not complete and the tendon pulling hard on the heel spur, it brought on this condition.

Osgood Schlatter's Disease is much better known. The good news is that it is virtually never known after the age of 16. It is very painful (the pain can last for months) and causes pain and often swellin g just below the knee. It is alos most common in those sports which involve a lot of running, kicking and jumping. The treatment is always to stop whatever you are doing for a considerable time and when it is painful it can be eased by the use of paracetamol but in really serious cases it can be put in plaster for a time.

This is just a note to coaches to let them know that the conditions exist - proper diagnosis is always by a doctor but have a look at the appropriate information on the web and be aware that they are there. Websites like kidshealth or patient UK will give you more information.