Growing pains are one of the most common concerns parents bring to our clinic. If your child wakes up crying about leg pain, you're not alone – and the good news is that growing pains are not dangerous. 👨👩👧👦 At AlphaCare Physio, we support Adelaide families through this phase with reassurance, expert assessment, and practical strategies to ease discomfort.
What Are Growing Pains?
Growing pains are benign nocturnal limb pains of childhood – a fancy way of saying they're harmless leg aches that happen at night.
Key characteristics:
- Typically occur between ages 3-12
- Most common in late afternoon, evening, or overnight
- Usually affect both legs equally
- Most commonly felt in the shins, calves, thighs, or behind the knees
- Don't limit daytime activity – children are usually pain-free during the day
What Do Growing Pains Feel Like?
Children describe growing pains in different ways – some say it's a dull ache, others describe throbbing or a tired, heavy feeling in their legs. The pain is often worse after days of running, jumping, sports, or other demanding physical activity. Rapid increases in activity levels can trigger symptoms.
The key feature that helps us identify growing pains is that they happen at night, often waking children from sleep or causing discomfort as they're trying to rest.
What Causes Growing Pains?
Despite the name, growing pains aren't directly caused by bones growing. Understanding the real contributing factors helps us address them effectively rather than just waiting for them to pass.
Common Contributing Factors:
- Muscle Fatigue and Overuse – Repeated stress on muscles and tissues, combined with fatigue, makes them more sensitive to pain. Active children accumulate muscle fatigue throughout the day.
- Muscle Tightness or Weakness – Tight calf muscles, hamstrings, and hip muscles are common culprits. Reduced strength in these areas can also contribute to discomfort.
- Biomechanics and Movement Patterns – Foot posture (like flat feet), joint stiffness, and altered movement patterns place extra stress on muscles and tissues.
- Growth and Development Changes – As children grow, their coordination and strength sometimes lag behind their increasing body size, creating imbalances.
When Should Parents Seek Help?
Growing pains are usually self-limiting, but a physiotherapy assessment is recommended if:
- Pain is frequent or worsening over time
- Pain regularly disturbs your child's sleep
- It's affecting their sport participation or daily activities
- Pain is localised to one area or only one leg
- There's swelling, limping, or daytime pain
A physiotherapist can rule out other causes and provide targeted strategies to ease symptoms.
Treating Growing Pains With Physiotherapy
We take a safe, gentle, evidence-based approach to managing growing pains. Treatment is tailored to your child's specific needs and may include:
Physiotherapy Treatment May Include:
- Gentle manual therapy to reduce muscle tension and improve tissue mobility
- Stretching and strengthening exercises to restore muscle balance
- Movement and posture assessment to identify and address biomechanical factors
- Advice for parents on activity management, pacing, and recovery strategies
- Simple home strategies like heat application and supportive bedtime routines
Our goal is to reduce pain episodes and prevent recurrence, so your child can get back to enjoying activities with confidence.
Benefits of Physiotherapy for Growing Pains
Families we work with often notice:
- Fewer and less intense pain episodes
- Improved sleep quality for both child and parents
- Greater confidence with sport and play
- Reduced anxiety around night-time leg pain
Early support makes a significant difference in how quickly children move through this phase.
Why Choose AlphaCare Physio?
We take a calm, reassuring, child-focused approach to paediatric care. We understand parent concerns and have extensive experience supporting children through growing pains and other developmental conditions.
Parents often tell us they value:
- Clear explanations and reassurance about what's happening
- Individualised care tailored to their child's needs
- Practical advice they can use at home
- Seeing their child return to activity with confidence
Personalised Care for Every Child
No two children grow the same way. Our assessment includes:
- Movement patterns and how your child moves
- Muscle strength and flexibility testing
- Activity and sport participation levels
- Growth and development stage
We support your child's body as it grows, addressing the specific factors contributing to their symptoms.
Easing Growing Pains With AlphaCare Physio
Growing pains are common, but they don't have to disrupt your child's sleep or limit their activities. With the right guidance and expert assessment, this phase becomes much more manageable. Physiotherapy is an effective, empowering approach that helps children move through growing pains with confidence.
Ready to Help Your Child Feel Better? 👉
If your child is experiencing growing pains, we're here to help. At AlphaCare Physio in Mitchell Park 📍, we specialise in paediatric care and understand what families are going through.
Book an appointment today and let us support your child's healthy development. Your family deserves expert care and peace of mind.