What are Growing Pains?

13 Mar What are Growing Pains?

Is growing painful? No, or at least, there is no evidence to say it is. More likely, it is simply overuse of muscles during a child’s active day.

The pain is usually in the thighs, calves or back of knees, and more often noticed after a big day of running, jumping, climbing, etc. Most often these cramping and aching muscle pains occur later in the day, but can even wake your child up at night. But by morning, after a night’s rest, they will be gone and won’t normally interfere with sport or exercise that day.

So called “growing pains” generally start from the age of 3-4, and can strike again at the age of 8-12. They come and go, varying in severity, and generally always affect both legs. As they only affect muscles, not joints, there shouldn’t be any limping. It is possible that children who suffer from them may be more sensitive to pain, and could be more prone to headaches and abdominal pains.

What can you do? A visit to Western Paediatric Physiotherapy will go a long way towards helping your child. Well trained and knowledgeable physiotherapists are there to help with massaging techniques, stretching,  exercises, and other treatment modalities to help your child through this often distressing time. WPP’s experienced physio’s can also check your child’s growth and development, giving more reassurance that everything is progressing normally.

If you have any concerns about growing pains or any other issues with your child, don’t hesitate to contact Western Paediatric Physiotherapy.