At Fit Foot Podiatry we look after many common conditions, however every now and then come across rarer conditions and issues. We’ll be highlighting a few of these throughout blogs in 2021 and hope to keep our community well informed.

So, let’s talk about Iselin Diseases.

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Just what is it?

Firstly, it is a condition that will mostly affect children between the age of 8-14 years old.

Iselin disease can be a painful irritation and inflammation of the apophysis (growth plate) at the base of the 5th metatarsal (foot bone). The growth plate in children is made up of cartilage, which is softer and more vulnerable to injury than mature bone.

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What causes it?

Iselin disease is mostly an overuse injury. Repetitive pressure and/or tension on the growth plate can make it become swollen and inflamed.

Another key issue is with the growth plate being under pressure is it can lead to on-going complaints like tight calf muscles, sore arches and general nagging pains.

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How can I spot it as a parent?

If your child takes part in high-impact physical activity, particularly sports that involve running and jumping, they are more likely to get Iselin disease.

If your child complains of pain along the outer edge of the foot that is worse with activity and improves with rest – Iselin could be the issue.

Also keep an eye out if they limp or walk on the inside of the foot. Sometimes you might find that the growth center may be enlarged, red and painful to the touch.

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What should I do to help at home?

If you find that your child has any of the complaints above it’s a good idea to take some immediate actions, for example taking some time off the sport and using ice to help stop the pain and inflammation. Add an ice pack to the area for 15 minutes, you can repeat this every hour and monitor how the pain levels go.

Some gently stretching of the calf muscles may also help take away some of the strain.

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When should you see a professional?

This comes down to pain! If the pain continues and you are having to cope with a child who is in distress, it is definitely time to see us at Fit Foot Podiatry.

We will analyse your child’s feet by checking range of motion, gait and the general biomechanics of the foot. We will also ask about footwear and what activities affect the pain.

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What would a podiatrist do for Iselin’s disease?


• Send for diagnostic images (X-ray)

• Gait (walking) assessment and range of motion studies

• Orthotics to offload the area

• Sometimes a cam boot is needed

• Exercise modification/advice

• Footwear advice

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If you have any questions or would like to come and see us, you can book here.