Are Growing Pains Real?

As children and teenagers, we deal with a lot of changes in our bodies that can make growing up stressful. Puberty, continuous growth and the challenges of adapting to the world at our different stages of youth. But did you know that growing up can cause injury?

During periods of rapid growth, muscles and other soft tissue may grow too slow in comparison to the bones they attach to. Some muscle attachment points are very close to growth plates. The presence of growth plates can make the attachment points of these muscles more sensitive and place excess load through the tendon. This can create pain, inflammation and sometimes swelling at the point around the growth plate.

Common growth plate injuries, and the site which your children may report the pain, include Sever's disease (pain usually reported in heel), Osgood-Schlatter disease (pain usually reported under knee), Sindig-Larsen-Johansson syndrome (pain usually reported on the bottom of the patella), and apophysitis of the hip (pain usually reported in the groin). Look out for these injuries in your child during times of rapid growth and high or increased levels of physical activity.

What should I do if I suspect my child has a growth-related injury?
If you are worried your child may be suffering from a growth-related injury (or any injury for that matter) it is a good idea to get them tested by a Physiotherapist. Physiotherapists can assist with identifying factors that may be causing excess load around your child's growth plate as well as developing strategies to reduce these accordingly.

No one likes to be in pain, so by establishing and addressing these different components, Physiotherapists aim to keep your child's pain to a minimum and keep them performing at their best, doing the activities and sport they love.

Call us on 9783 9990 or book online to see one of our highly qualified Physiotherapists.