Heel Pain Season: Apophysitis or Something More?

This CME program on pediatric heel pain equips clinicians with a structured, developmentally informed approach to evaluating heel pain in children and adolescents. Participants will review age-specific anatomy, growth-related biomechanics, and common etiologies of pediatric heel pain, with emphasis on distinguishing calcaneal apophysitis from overuse, neurologic, traumatic, and systemic causes. Practical focus is placed on targeted history-taking, focused physical examination, and judicious use of imaging to avoid unnecessary studies in the growing patient.

Learners will also examine evidence-based, nonoperative management strategies and appropriate thresholds for escalation of care, integrating activity modification, biomechanical assessment, and return-to-sport considerations. By combining developmental understanding with clinical decision-making frameworks, this program empowers clinicians to deliver accurate diagnoses, avoid overtreatment, and provide patient- and family-centered care for children with heel pain.