As a sports-focused podiatry clinic that works extensively with kids, aspiring teenage athletes and Melbourne sports clubs, we’ve been noticing a significant increase in Achilles pain and heel pain over the years. Kids are starting training earlier, going for longer and harder, and entering competitive leagues at young ages – so it’s not a complete surprise – nor should it be a reason for pain or injury when the right care is taken for their feet and legs.

When it comes to the Achilles tendon, there are a number of special considerations due to the tendon’s unique nature, which changes the way that good care, rehabilitation and pain management should be approached. Today, the Sole Motion Podiatry team are sharing all about Achilles pain in young basketball players, and the right steps to take if this is affecting your child.

 

Why you should never ignore Achilles pain

Your Achilles tendon is the thickest and strongest tendon in your body – both in kids and adults. It takes on approximately 5 times your body weight during activity – and under normal circumstances, can cope with that load.

The crux of the Achilles tendon is that it has a very poor blood supply relative to the other tendons in your body. As a good blood supply is generally needed for effective healing and repair when injuries and pains occur, this can make the Achilles difficult to heal, which is the reason it is an ongoing problem for so many people.

This is why you should never ignore Achilles pain in the hopes that it will get better on its own – as it is much more difficult for the Achilles to repair effectively without any help than any other tendon in the body, and it is also continually being used when we take a step, meaning that it stays vulnerable to further damage and ongoing problems.

 

The link between basketball and Achilles pain

Basketball involves a number of movements and actions that place a great load and high stress on the Achilles tendon. When the stress exceeds the point at which the tendon can safely handle, micro-tears and damage occur. Factors that contribute to the Achilles tendon injury risk in basketball include:

• The rapid starts and stops
• Instant changes in direction
• Constant running, jumping and landing
• The use of low-set basketball shoes
• 40-minutes of intense high-impact game time, often immediately after a training session

These factors mean that high-intensity basketball training must be worked towards over weeks and not dived straight into so intensely at the start of the season, yet this is the reality of many sports seasons, and why pre-season training is so important.

 

Could it be growing pains?

If the pain is not at the tendon itself but at the heel bone, then we may be looking at growing pains instead of Achilles pain – or even both Achilles pain and growing pains together.

Technically speaking, growing pains at the heels do not involve damage to the Achilles tendon itself. Instead, it is the irritation of the growth plate present at the back of the heel bone that produces painful symptoms. Growth plates are areas of bone present in all growing children to which new bone is added – they’re how our bones grow bigger and longer. 

The Achilles tendon comes into it because often it is a tight Achilles tendon pulling on the back of the heel that causes that irritation – hence the symptoms of growing pains often come on during or after running and sports. It is very much possible that a tight Achilles tendon produces both symptoms of growing pains in the heel bone, and damage to the tendon itself – another reason why having a proper diagnosis by an experienced sports podiatrist is a must.

 

Treating Achilles pain in young basketball players

There are two parts of treatment that must be implemented: short-term healing and pain relief, and long-term management and prevention.

In the short-term, the length of which can be anywhere from weeks to months after first seeing us (depending on how severe the damage to the tendon is), all the causes of strain and damage to the Achilles must be identified. There’s no point in addressing only one out of three causes – you must have the complete picture so you can get the best results. Here at Sole Motion, we do this using a comprehensive biomechanical assessment that looks at everything from muscle and tendon strength and flexibility, to how the feet and legs function together during running and gameplay.

Next, we select the best treatment methods to effectively repair the tendon, and keep the feet and legs supported in the process. This varies from child to child, but may involve the use of physical therapy to address muscle imbalances, custom foot orthotics for postural and alignment issues, bracing or splints, additions to footwear for increased support, and changes to warm-ups and pre-game training.

For a full list of our services, click here.

 

If they’re serious about basketball, the focus must be on the long-term

The problem with Achilles pain is that it can come back if a long-term approach isn’t taken. What we mean by long-term is continuing to manage the factors that led to the problem developing in the first place, so that it doesn’t come back or become longstanding. Many adults face chronic Achilles tendinopathy from not managing their Achilles pain and problems effectively in adolescence.

Our podiatrists always want to see your child succeed and excel at their sports and sporting careers, so will also discuss with you the best way forward to help keep them pain-free and performing well for the years to come. 

We work with kids of all ages and ability levels – from their first social basketball team, to working directly with clubs, to those trialling for the big leagues. If your child has any pain from basketball, we’re here to help. Book your appointment with our experienced team in Melbourne’s Point Cook online here or call us on 1300 FX FEET