20 Jun Growing pains slowing your kiddo down?

Growing pains – which don’t actually have anything to do with a child’s growth – affect an estimated 20-40% of children between 3-12 years old.

Most commonly, these pains occur in the shins, calves, thighs and/or behind the knees. Your child is more likely to complain about their discomfort in the evenings and at night, with symptoms resolving by morning.

What do growing pains feel like?

• cramping
• deep ache
• throbbing
• mild to severe discomfort
• can last from a few minutes to a few hours
• occurs daily in some children and intermittently in others

What causes this discomfort?

“The cause of growing pains is unknown. But there’s no evidence that a child’s growth is painful.

Growing pains don’t usually happen where growth is occurring or during times of rapid growth. It’s been suggested that growing pains may be linked to restless legs syndrome. But muscle pain at night from overuse during the day is thought to be the most likely cause of growing pains. Overuse from activities such as running, climbing and jumping can be hard on a child’s musculoskeletal system.”

(reference: Mayo Clinic)

At-home Solutions

Growing pains are likely to disappear by the time a child reaches their teen years, and in the meantime, here are a few tips to support them through it:

• a warm bath before bed

• gentle massage
• stretch the uncomfortable area
• heat pad on the area

Treatment for growing pains

If these at-home options aren’t enough, especially for kids with hypermobility, physiotherapy can be a great support. Targeted stretching, strengthening with a tailored exercise program, and manual therapy provided by a skilled physiotherapist can all help alleviate symptoms for your kiddo.

It’s important to note, if your child’s growing pains don’t disappear in the morning, become more severe, interferes with regular physical activity, or is accompanied by other symptoms (like swelling, redness, weakness, fatigue, etc,), please get in touch with a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Get in touch

For more information about treatment for your child’s growing pains, you can give us a call or send an email. Or, to book with Becky (our stretch therapy ‘guru’), click the book now button at the top of the page.