Outside-of-the-Foot Pain in Young Athletes

Here’s a story I see all the time in South Tampa.

Your 11-year-old soccer player starts limping during practice. They point to the outside of their foot and say it hurts—especially when they cut, sprint, or push off.

You’re told:

“It’s probably just growing pains.”
“They’ll grow out of it.”
“Give it a week.”

So you give it a week. Maybe two. They take a few days off, ice it a bit, then go right back to sports. The pain calms down, then flares again the next tournament or dance recital.

By the time you end up in my office in Hyde Park, this “little” problem has been coming and going for months, and your kid is now:

Limping between games
Avoiding certain movements
Afraid of being pulled from the lineup

One of the most common reasons we see this pattern is a condition called Iselin disease—but that’s not the only cause of outer-foot pain in kids.

Let’s walk through what’s normal, what isn’t, and how we keep young athletes in Tampa on the field without wrecking their long-term foot health.

The Common Scenario: 10–14-Year-Old Soccer or Dance Kid Limping on and off

Typical pattern:

Age 9–14
Plays soccer, basketball, dance, cheer, gymnastics, or flag football
Practices several times a week plus games or performances
Starts to complain of pain on the outside of the foot, usually halfway down
Pain worsens with:
- Running
- Cutting or jumping
- Tight cleats or dance shoes
Limping is worse after activity and later in the day

Parents often notice:

Subtle limp
Kid walking on the inside of the foot to avoid pressure on the outer edge
A small bump or tenderness at the base of the 5th metatarsal (the long bone on the outer foot)

This is exactly the age range and pattern where Iselin disease shows up.

What Is Iselin Disease in Plain Terms?

Iselin disease is not an infection and it’s not “kid cancer.” The name sounds dramatic, but here’s what it actually is:

A growth plate irritation at the base of the 5th metatarsal (the long bone on the outside of the foot)
Technically called apophysitis—inflammation where a tendon pulls on a growth plate
Most common in:
- 9–14-year-olds
- Active kids who run, jump, cut, and change direction frequently

Think of it this way:

The growth plate is a weaker, softer zone in the bone.
The peroneal tendon attaches nearby and pulls on that area every time your child pushes off, cuts, or jumps.
If the load is too high—or the shoes/surfaces are unforgiving—that growth plate gets irritated, inflamed, and painful.

Symptoms that fit Iselin disease:

Pain on the outside of the mid-foot, especially with sports
Tenderness right over the bony bump on the outside of the foot
Swelling or mild redness in that area
Limping or walking on the inside of the foot
Pain that improves with rest but keeps coming back with activity

For a deeper, condition-specific breakdown, we have a full guide here:
What Is Iselin Disease, and How Is It Treated in Children?

Other Causes of Outside-of-the-Foot Pain in Kids (It’s Not Always Iselin)

Not every kid with pain on the outside of the foot has Iselin disease. Part of our job is to rule out more serious problems, including:

5th metatarsal stress fracture
Jones fracture (a specific, higher-risk fracture of the 5th metatarsal)
Avulsion fracture where a small piece of bone is pulled off by a tendon or ligament
Residual issues from an ankle sprain
Peroneal tendon strain or tear
Less commonly, issues in the cuboid bone or mid-foot joints

This is why a proper exam—and often X-rays—matter. What looks like “growing pains” from the sideline can be a growth plate issue, a bone injury, or a tendon problem. Each one is managed differently.

At Bayshore Podiatry Center, we see the full spectrum of pediatric foot and ankle problems, not just Iselin disease. You can see how we approach kids’ feet more broadly here:
Pediatric Foot and Ankle Care in Tampa

Warning Signs It’s More Than “They’ll Grow Out of It”

Kids are tough. They will often compensate and keep playing long after an adult would have quit.

You should not write this off as “just growing pains” if:

Your child is limping during or after sports, not just “sore”
Pain is localized to a specific spot on the outer foot, not just general fatigue
There’s a visible bump, swelling, or tenderness on the outside of the foot
They’ve stopped running hard or cutting because they don’t trust the foot
Pain keeps returning each season, despite “resting it” in the off-season
Night pain, pain at rest, or waking from sleep (stronger concern for stress fracture or other pathology)
The pain has been on-and-off for weeks to months

If your kid changes the way they walk, run, or jump to protect the painful area, that’s your sign it’s time for more than ice and ibuprofen.

How We Diagnose Outside-of-the-Foot Pain in Young Athletes

In our South Tampa clinic, you’re not getting a quick glance and a “yep, it’s probably growing pains.”

We take a structured approach:

1. Detailed History

We ask about:

Sports load: practices, games, tournaments, dance rehearsals
Recent changes: new team, new coach, new cleats, big growth spurt, summer camp
Injury timeline: first onset, what made it better/worse, patterns across seasons

2. Physical Exam

We look at:

Exact location of tenderness
Swelling, warmth, or visible bump over the 5th metatarsal base
Calf and peroneal muscle tightness
Foot structure (flat, neutral, high arch)
Gait: do they walk on the inside edge to offload the pain?

3. Imaging When Needed

X-rays to:
- Distinguish normal growth plate appearance from fractures
- Check for stress fractures or avulsion injuries
Occasionally ultrasound or MRI if there’s concern for tendon involvement or more complex issues

The goal is simple:

Get a specific diagnosis so we can build a plan that lets your child heal and get back to their sport safely.

Treatment: How We Get Young Athletes Back to Sports (Without Creating Bigger Problems)

The good news: with the right plan, most kids with Iselin disease or similar overload issues do very well.

Activity Modification (Not “Shut Them Down Forever”)

We rarely say, “You can’t move at all.”

Instead, we:

Pull back from the highest-load activities (hard cuts, sprints, tournaments)
Keep non-impact or lower-impact movement when possible (bike, easy swimming, certain drills that don’t provoke pain)
Temporarily reduce volume, then build back up once symptoms calm

For more severe cases or when a stress fracture is suspected or confirmed, we may:

Use a walking boot or brace for a short period
Recommend a stricter activity break to protect the bone

Footwear and Orthotics

We look closely at:

Cleat fit and flexibility
Daily shoes (including what they wear to school and at home)
Arch support and lateral stability

We may recommend:

A supportive athletic shoe outside of sports instead of flimsy slides or flat shoes
Over-the-counter or custom orthotics to reduce tension on the growth plate and improve mechanics
Changes in cleat or dance shoe style if the current gear is clearly aggravating the problem

Stretching and Strengthening

Most of these kids have some combination of:

Tight calves
Tight peroneal muscles (outer lower leg)
Weakness in foot and ankle stabilizers

We build a simple program that might include:

Calf and peroneal stretching
Foot and ankle strengthening
Balance and control drills as pain improves

Typical Timelines

This is always kid- and case-specific, but a rough guide:

Mild cases:
- 2–4 weeks of modified activity and supportive care
- Gradual return to full sports with good symptom control
Moderate/severe or chronic cases:
- 4–8+ weeks to calm things down and rebuild tolerance
- More structured return-to-play progression, especially for year-round athletes

Our job is to respect the growth plate and keep the season—and their long-term foot health—on track.

Long-Term Outlook: Will This Affect Them Forever?

For true Iselin disease:

The issue is tied to a growth plate that will eventually close as your child matures.
Once that growth plate fuses and the area is no longer being irritated, pain typically resolves and does not come back in adulthood.

However, there are a few long-term concerns if this is ignored or handled poorly:

Chronic compensation patterns (always walking on the inside of the foot)
Peroneal tendon irritation from constantly protecting the painful area
Missed or undertreated fractures leading to persistent problems

Handled correctly, most kids:

Return fully to the sports they love
Do not end up with long-term disability
Learn how to manage load, footwear, and recovery smarter going forward

That’s the outcome we’re aiming for.

When to Bring Your Child to a Podiatrist in Tampa

You don’t need to rush in for every bump or bruise, but you should get your child evaluated if:

They’ve had outside-of-the-foot pain for more than 1–2 weeks that isn’t clearly improving
They’re limping, walking on the inside of the foot, or asking out of activities
You see swelling, a painful bump, or warmth over the outer mid-foot
Pain keeps returning every season, despite rest periods
You’re worried about a stress fracture or something more serious

If you want to read a parent-focused deep dive first, start here:
What Is Iselin Disease, and How Is It Treated in Children?

For a broader look at how we treat kids’ feet and sports injuries, you can also review:
Pediatric Foot & Ankle Care in Tampa

Next Steps for Parents of Young Athletes Around Tampa Bay

If your child is limping on and off the field, here’s what I’d do:

1. Stop Calling It “Just Growing Pains”

Growing bodies do have aches and stiffness—but focal pain, a limp, and recurrent outer-foot pain tied to sports deserve a real look.

2. Get a Targeted Evaluation

At Bayshore Podiatry Center in South Tampa, we see kids from Hyde Park, South Tampa, MacDill, Westchase, Brandon, and across Tampa Bay for exactly this kind of problem.

During a visit, we:

Take a detailed sports and growth history
Examine both feet and legs, not just the painful spot
Order X-rays or other imaging when appropriate
Build a plan that balances healing with age-appropriate activity

You can start by visiting our homepage and requesting an appointment online:
Bayshore Podiatry Center – Tampa Podiatrists

Or call the office directly at 813-877-6636.

Kids don’t fake pain for long—and they shouldn’t have to choose between playing the sports they love and being able to walk comfortably. If your child is limping with outside-of-the-foot pain, let’s figure out what’s really going on and get them back in the game the right way.

Outside-of-the-Foot Pain in Young Athletes: Why It’s Not Just “Growing Pains”