For all patients, MRI scan referrals from Sports Physicians are now eligible for a rebate from Medicare when performed at a rebatable MRI machine. Not all MRI machines are rebatable under the Federal Health regulations and unfortunately GP and Physiotherapist MRI referrals are not eligible for a rebate at these specific machines.| Heel Pain in Children |
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Heel pain in children; “Sever’s Disease” or “Calcaneal apophysitis” Does your child suffer with heel pain? This is a common sports injury and much of the heel pain that active young children experience is due to Sever’s Disease. This is an injury to the cartilage growth plate (the apophysis) at the attachment site of the Achilles tendon to the bone of the heel (calcaneus) and therefore is also known as “Calcaneal apophysitis”.
Dr Luke Inman |
The injury occurs from overuse and repetitious movements and increases in volume of sport (particularly an over emphasis on one type of sport). Children are especially susceptible because they have spongy growth plates and they are gaining more height, mass and power through their body at this time. There are also biomechanical factors that add to this problem such as over-pronation of feet, leg-length discrepancies, poor pelvic stability and internal rotation of the tibia. Other rare and more serious medical conditions can also be underlying this problem and may need to be investigated.