Growing pains in children are pains experienced by some children as they grow. These pains are often achy muscle pain which may be cramping in nature. Growing pains tend to occur in the evenings and may cause children to wake up at night. The growing pain is usually gone on waking in the morning and does not affect the child’s ability to do physical activities.

What Age Does Growing Pains In Children Occur?

Growing pains tend to start around age 3 or 4. They also tend to affect children again around the age of 8-12.

What Causes Growing Pains In Children?

We do not know exactly what causes growing pains in children.

Currently there is no firm evidence that growing pains in children are linked to growth spurts.

One theory is the growing pains in children may be due to muscular tightness from children being active. Running, jumping, climbing, cycling could all potentially cause muscle tightness and discomfort. Growing pains in children appear to occur or made worse after a big day of physical activity.

Where Does The Growing Pain In Children Occur?

Growing pains in children are felt in the front of the thighs, front of the lower leg (shin bone), back of legs (calf muscle), or behind the knees. It may affect one leg at a time but commonly affects both.

The Authors Theory Of Growing Pains In Children?

Both of my children have suffered with growing pains at times. I  found growing pains occurred during the night (waking them from their sleep) on the days following lots of  physical activity. At times it did  appear coincide with a combination of a rapid growth in height and moderate physical activity such as jumping or climbing.

The Authors Treatment Of Growing Pains In Children

As growing pains are considered to be of musculoskeletal origin, the following is what I found beneficial with my own children and well as other children.

  1. Supplement with magnezium. This can be used orally or sprayed onto the skin (spray magnezium). Personally I used liquid Nano Magnezium with my children before bed.
  2. Bath in epsom salts or magnezium flakes. Use a cup of either  and soak in the bath for  at least 20 minutes
  3. Massage the legs to relieve muscular tightness. This can be done before going to bed and if the child wakes with growing pains.
  4. See a chiropractor. Misalignments in the spine may cause a change in weight bearing and one leg to be slightly shorter. This imbalance in the leg length may cause  some of the leg muscles to become overworked and tight. As these muscles work harder and become tighter they are more likely to cause pain.

 

References

http://www.webmd.com/children/guide/growing-pains