At A Healthy Step Clinic, our Podiatrist indicates that there are a range of conditions where children may be experiencing pain. Some contributing factors may include but not limited to;
- Growing Pains
- In-toe and out-toe gait
- Walking on tips of toes
- Hypermobility
- Developmental concerns
Growing Pains
Growing Pain or tenderness typically occurring at night which does not result in disability during the day where it is normally benign and self-limiting. Growing pains can cause significant discomfort to the child and may wake him or her up from sleep. Growing pain usually occurs between the age groups of 3-5 and 8-11 years, however it may present till early adolescence or teenage years. Boys and girls are equally affected.
Most common locations of pain may include however not limited to:
- Legs (often calf)
- Front of thigh
- Behind the knee
Cause
There is a range of contributing factors liking growing pain ranging from tight muscles, tendons or the bones are growing too fast, increased activity of a child, muscular tiredness, poor posture and stress.
Symptoms
- Aches of muscles of both legs
- Movement of legs does not change pain severity, joints not affected
- Pain comes and goes
- Onset later afternoon or evening
- Pain worse during night
- Pain can wake up the child
- Occasionally muscles of the arms affected too
- Child may complain of headaches
- It is most likely not a growing pain when
- Pain in the morning or persistent pain
- Joint pain/tenderness, swelling or redness
- Pain following the injury
- Limping
- Weakness or unusual tiredness
- Limitation of movement