CHILDREN: growing pains

 

Children often complain of “growing pains” at night. These usually present as muscular leg aches often relieved with massage and children’s pain relief medication. It is not painful to grow. Growing is a normal body function that we are designed to do! If however the body is under some other strain, the additional stretching of the growth period can trigger pain that might not have otherwise been felt. As such it is important to have any child with ‘growing pains’ assessed to determine if there is an underlying cause of the pain. In many cases the pain is a mild version of ‘shin splints’ and often associated with excess pronation or ‘flat feet’. Treatment involved with addressing the underlying cause and pain is often resolved with stretches, exercises, footwear advice and orthotic therapy if required.