Physiotherapy is a proactive and non-invasive growing pains treatment for kids and parents looking to ease their child’s discomfort.
Growing pains can have a large impact on kids and their families. Frequent episodes may lead to absences from school and work, daytime fatigue, reduced physical activity and frequent use of pain medications.
In this blog, we will look at the features of growing pains as well as current treatment, and how physiotherapy can help with its management.
Table of Contents:
- What are growing pains?
- Diagnosis of growing pains
- What causes growing pains
- Regular treatment for growing pains
- When to seek medical help
- How physiotherapy can help
- Conclusion
What are Growing Pains?
Growing pains in children are a common, benign condition characterized by intermittent discomfort in the muscles, typically in the legs. While growing pains remain the most common cause of musculoskeletal pain in early childhood, its causes remain poorly understood.
Diagnosis of Growing Pains
While there is no definitive diagnostic procedure for growing pains, there are key clinical features that mark this condition including:[i]
- Non articular (not in the joint) pain usually in both legs (can be one sided)
- Pain starting between 3 and 12 years old
- Pain occurring at the end of day or at night
- No limitation in activities
- Normal physical exam and diagnostic tests
What Causes Growing Pains
Unfortunately, there is no conclusive evidence on why growing pains occur. There are some hypothesis on why these occur:[ii]
- Lower pain threshold
- Changes in vascular perfusion
- Anatomical factors including foot posture
- Bone strength
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Genetic susceptibility
- Psychological factors
While these hypothesis may be a starting point for further research it is important to note that the research is limited in these areas.
Regular Treatment for Growing Pains
For many children, treatment of growing pains often involves medication such as acetaminophen and anti-inflammatory drugs to help with pain management, as well as things like massage and heat.
When to Seek Medical Help for Growing Pains
If the growing pains are severe, persistent, or associated with other symptoms like swelling, fever, or limping, it’s essential to consult a healthcare provider to rule out other conditions like juvenile arthritis or an infection.
Physiotherapy Management of Growing Pains
Physiotherapy can be a key piece in the assessment and management of childhood growing pains. Management includes:
- Education – a healthcare professional can help to ease a child’s fear and anxiety around pain
- Stretching – physiotherapists are able to determine if muscles are shortened requiring stretching techniques that work best for the client
- Strengthening – a physiotherapy assessment will help to determine if muscles are weak requiring strengthening exercises to minimize injury or overuse
- Posture – a postural assessment will help determine if anatomical conditions (such as flat feet) may be leading to an imbalance in the lower extremity
- Pain management – physiotherapists are able to use therapeutic techniques such as soft tissue massage, soft tissue release, taping, and acupuncture that can help with pain management
Conclusion
Physiotherapy can be a valuable tool in managing growing pains, offering targeted solutions to address the underlying factors contributing to discomfort. By improving muscle strength, flexibility, and posture, physiotherapy not only alleviates pain but also equips children with better movement patterns to support their growing bodies.
Additionally, the personalized approach of Propel Physiotherapy helps identify and address specific issues like muscle imbalances or postural concerns, reducing the recurrence of pain.
For parents seeking a proactive and non-invasive way to ease their child’s discomfort, consulting a physiotherapist can provide both immediate relief and long-term benefits for their child’s overall physical health.
References
[i] Liao, CY., Wang, LC., Lee, JH. et al. Clinical, laboratory characteristics and growth outcomes of children with growing pains. Sci Rep 12, 14835 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19285-3
[ii] Pavone V, Vescio A, Valenti F, Sapienza M, Sessa G, Testa G. Growing pains: What do we know about etiology? A systematic review. World J Orthop. 2019 Apr 18;10(4):192-205. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v10.i4.192. PMID: 31041161; PMCID: PMC6475815.
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