Growing Pains

Growing Pains

What are growing pains?

Growing pains are a common term used to describe aching or throbbing pains, usually in a child’s legs. They are most common in children aged 3–12 and often occur in the late afternoon, evening or during the night.

Growing pains are generally harmless and do not cause long-term damage. They often come and go, with children feeling comfortable again by the morning and able to take part in their usual activities between episodes.

However, not all leg pain in children is growing pains. It is important to recognise when symptoms may need further assessment.

What are the symptoms of growing pains?

Growing pains typically have the following characteristics:

• Pain in both legs: Often affecting the muscles of the thighs, calves or behind the knees.

• Evening or night-time discomfort: Pain commonly develops later in the day or wakes a child during the night.

• Intermittent symptoms: Pain may last from a few minutes to several hours and may not happen every day.

• Comfortable by morning: Children usually wake up without pain and can walk normally.

• No persistent changes: There is usually no swelling, redness, warmth or ongoing limp.

Growing pains generally affect the muscles rather than the joints. Children should usually be able to run, walk and play normally between episodes.

Are growing pains the same as Sever’s disease or Osgood-Schlatter disease?

No. Although these conditions can all cause leg pain in children, they are different and should not be confused with growing pains.

• Sever’s disease: A growth-related condition affecting the heel, often causing pain during or after running, jumping and other sporting activities.

• Osgood-Schlatter disease: A condition affecting the area just below the kneecap, commonly causing pain and tenderness during activities such as running, jumping and kneeling.

• Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndrome: A condition affecting the lower edge of the kneecap, which can cause pain during running, jumping and other activities.

Unlike typical growing pains, these conditions are often associated with physical activity and discomfort in a specific area.

Understanding the differences can help families seek appropriate advice and support.

When should you seek medical advice?

Although growing pains are common, it is important to seek medical advice if your child has symptoms that do not fit the typical pattern.

Arrange an assessment if your child experiences:

• Pain that consistently affects only one leg.

• Pain in the morning or throughout the day.

• Pain during walking, running or other physical activities.

• Pain directly in a joint.

• A persistent limp or changes in the way they walk.

• Swelling, redness, warmth or tenderness in a specific area.

• Unexplained tiredness, fever, reduced appetite or weight loss.

• Pain that is becoming more frequent, severe or persistent.

Seek urgent medical attention if your child suddenly cannot walk or put weight through their leg, has severe pain, or develops a hot, swollen joint alongside a fever or feeling generally unwell.

It is always better to have persistent or unusual symptoms assessed rather than automatically attributing them to growing pains.

How can growing pains be managed?

For children whose symptoms are consistent with typical growing pains, simple measures may help make them more comfortable.

These may include:

• Gentle massage: Lightly massaging the affected muscles may help your child feel more comfortable.

• Warmth: A warm bath or a comfortably warm heat pack, used safely, may help ease discomfort.

• Relaxation: A calm bedtime routine may help children settle when symptoms occur in the evening.

• Recovery after active days: Allowing time to rest after busy days may help manage discomfort.

• Reassurance: Explaining that typical growing pains are temporary can help children feel less worried.

If you are considering pain relief, follow the product instructions and seek advice from a pharmacist or healthcare professional if you are unsure what is suitable for your child.

If symptoms persist or are unusual, seek medical advice before assuming they are growing pains.

Can physiotherapy help with growing pains?

Physiotherapy is not usually needed for typical growing pains when a child is otherwise healthy, active and comfortable between episodes.

However, physiotherapy may be helpful when a child also experiences movement difficulties, reduced strength, balance or coordination challenges, or pain that affects their participation in everyday activities.

A paediatric physiotherapist can assess your child's movement, physical function and activity levels to help determine whether physiotherapy may be appropriate.

Depending on the findings, support may include:

• Movement assessment: Looking at walking, running, jumping and other activities to identify any difficulties that may need further attention.

• Strength and physical conditioning: Supporting strength and physical capacity where an assessment identifies a need.

• Flexibility and mobility: Addressing specific restrictions where these are relevant to the child's symptoms and movement.

• Activity and recovery advice: Helping families balance physical activity, rest and recovery.

• Gait and balance assessment: Exploring difficulties with walking, balance or coordination where present.

• Education and reassurance: Helping families understand their child's symptoms and know when further medical assessment may be needed.

The approach will depend on your child's individual needs. Physiotherapy should not be presented as a treatment for all growing pains, and unexplained or persistent pain should be assessed appropriately.

Could hydrotherapy help?

Hydrotherapy involves therapeutic exercise in a pool, where the buoyancy of the water can make movement easier for some children.

It may be considered when a child has additional movement difficulties or an underlying condition affecting strength, mobility or physical function.

Hydrotherapy is not generally necessary for typical growing pains alone. If your child has persistent or unexplained leg pain, they should be appropriately assessed before starting a treatment programme.

Where hydrotherapy is suitable, activities can be adapted to support movement, balance, strength and confidence in the water.

How can Positive Steps Physiotherapy help?

At Positive Steps Physiotherapy, we understand that pain or movement difficulties can affect a child's confidence, participation and enjoyment of everyday activities.

Our paediatric physiotherapy team takes an individualised approach, considering each child's symptoms, abilities, interests and goals.

Where appropriate, we can support children with:

• Assessing movement and physical function.

• Developing strength, balance and coordination.

• Supporting walking, running, jumping and active play.

• Managing activity levels and recovery.

• Building confidence in physical activities.

• Helping parents and carers understand how best to support their child.

If your child has leg pain that you are concerned about, we can help you understand whether a physiotherapy assessment may be appropriate. Where symptoms suggest a need for medical investigation, we will advise you to seek the appropriate healthcare support.

Our approach focuses on each child's individual needs and always finding what can be done to help them move, play and participate in the activities they enjoy.

Our goals

Depending on your child's needs, our goals may include:

• Improving strength, balance and coordination.

• Supporting comfortable movement and participation.

• Building confidence in play, sport and everyday activities.

• Helping families understand activity management and recovery.

• Supporting a safe return to meaningful activities where appropriate.

Every child is different, so we tailor our approach to their symptoms, abilities and goals.

If you have concerns about your child's movement or physical development, contact Positive Steps Physiotherapy to discuss whether an assessment may be suitable.

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