Growing pains in children
Growing pains are aches in the legs, knees, ankles or feet that often appear at night or after activity in children. They can stem from tight muscles, poor foot posture or unsuitable shoes. Fiona assesses each child's walking pattern, joints and footwear in an initial consultation from $100.
What growing pains are
Growing pains are aches that active children often feel in the knees, legs, ankles and feet. Many parents put them down to normal growth and expect children to simply put up with them. Frequent or ongoing pain is not something a child needs to endure. The discomfort often has an underlying cause that podiatry can identify and manage.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary from child to child and can include:
- Pain in the knees, legs, ankles or feet
- Cramps at night during sleep
- Aches after strenuous activity or sport
- Pain that keeps coming back or becomes chronic
Causes and risk factors
Growing pains are often blamed on rapid growth alone, but other factors may be behind them. Possible causes include:
- Growth plate problems in the bones
- Tight muscles or loose ligaments
- Poor foot posture
- A poor walking pattern
- Inappropriate shoes
The pain may overlap with other childhood foot problems, such as flat feet or Sever's disease.
Treatment at the clinic
Fiona Shepes, our podiatrist, examines every child herself at Narre Warren. She assesses walking and foot posture, and she observes muscle lengths, joint range of motion, footwear and activities or sports. Treatment may include footwear advice, strapping and taping, or stretching and strengthening programs. Orthotics can help where foot posture or a walking pattern contributes to the pain, and custom orthotics are available from $650 including biomechanical assessment, fitting and a review appointment. Fiona can refer for X-ray, ultrasound or MRI when further imaging is needed, and she refers back to the GP when a problem sits outside podiatry. An initial consultation is from $100, and a standard consultation is from $90.
Looking after it at home
Watch the shoes your child wears for school and sport, since inappropriate shoes are a common factor in leg pain. Supportive, well-fitted footwear may reduce the strain on tired muscles. Gentle calf and leg stretches after sport can help children who play regularly. Rest from strenuous activity during flare-ups gives sore muscles and joints a chance to settle. Our guide to choosing shoes covers what to look for.
When to see a podiatrist
See a podiatrist when your child's leg or foot pain becomes frequent, chronic, or starts to limit their sport and play. A limp that persists, pain that is present in the morning, swelling, or pain in a single joint should be checked by your GP rather than assumed to be growing pains. Night pain that regularly disturbs sleep deserves an assessment too.
Questions
Are growing pains normal in children?
Aches after sport are common in active children, but ongoing or frequent pain is not something a child should simply endure. Pain that keeps returning can have an underlying cause such as tight muscles, poor foot posture or inappropriate shoes.
Why do children get leg pain at night?
Cramps during sleep or after strenuous activity are a common pattern in children's leg pain. Muscle fatigue, tight muscles and growth-related stress on the bones can all play a part. An assessment can show whether foot posture or footwear is adding to the problem.
When should I be worried about growing pains?
Worry when pain becomes chronic, causes a limp, comes with swelling, or affects one joint rather than the whole leg. Your GP should assess those symptoms. Persistent night pain that disturbs sleep is another reason to have your child examined.
Can a podiatrist help with growing pains?
Yes. Fiona assesses walking pattern, foot posture, muscle lengths, joint range of motion, footwear and sport. She can recommend footwear, stretches, strapping or orthotics, and she can refer for imaging when it is needed.