Growing Pains
Understanding and Managing Growing Pains in Young Athletes
As a parent, you want the best for your child, especially when they’re active and involved in sports. But what happens when your child starts complaining of pain during a growth spurt? Often, these aches are dismissed as “growing pains,” but there’s more to the story than just the discomfort of growing. At PhysioActive, we understand that growing pains can be a sign of deeper issues that need to be addressed to ensure your child’s health and well-being.
The Complexity Behind Growing Pains
Growing pains are more than just a byproduct of a growth spurt. They can be linked to a range of factors, including muscle tightness, fascial adhesions, and even disruptions in the nervous system. As your child’s bones grow, their muscles, tendons, and ligaments are stretched, which can cause significant discomfort, especially during periods of rapid growth. But it’s not just the physical stretching that causes pain—there’s often more going on beneath the surface.
At PhysioActive, we’ve found that integrating primitive reflexes, particularly the tendon guard reflex, can play a crucial role in managing and even preventing growing pains. The tendon guard reflex is a protective mechanism that tightens the muscles when the nervous system perceives a threat, which can be triggered during growth spurts. This, combined with balancing the cranial base and regulating the autonomic nervous system (ANS), helps normalize postural tone. When these systems are out of balance, it can lead to increased muscle tightness and fascial restrictions, which the growing bones have to push against, leading to pain.
Additionally, scarring and adhesions from previous injuries or surgeries can contribute to fascial disruption, further complicating the issue. These adhesions can cause the fascia—connective tissue that surrounds muscles and organs—to stick together, restricting movement and exacerbating pain during growth spurts.
Case Study: How PhysioActive Helped a Young Athlete
Let’s look at a real-world example of how our approach at PhysioActive made a difference for one young athlete. This young man was going through a significant growth spurt and was heavily involved in sports. He began experiencing severe pain in his knees and hips, which was initially dismissed as typical growing pains. However, the pain persisted and began to affect his ability to participate in his favorite activities.
His parents brought him to PhysioActive, where we conducted a thorough assessment. We identified that his pain was not just due to growing bones but also related to primitive reflexes that hadn’t fully integrated, leading to abnormal postural tone. There was also a noticeable imbalance in his cranial base and a dysregulated ANS, both of which were contributing to his muscle tightness.
We began a treatment plan that focused on integrating his primitive reflexes, balancing his cranial base, and regulating his ANS. We also addressed fascial adhesions that were restricting his movement and causing additional discomfort. Over time, his muscle tone normalized, his pain decreased, and he was able to return to his sports without the debilitating pain he had been experiencing.
Why Addressing Growing Pains Early Is Important
Ignoring or dismissing growing pains can lead to more significant issues down the road. If your child is experiencing persistent pain during a growth spurt, it’s essential to seek professional help. At PhysioActive, we have the expertise to identify and treat the underlying causes of growing pains, ensuring that your child can continue to grow and develop without unnecessary discomfort.
Our approach is holistic and individualized, focusing on the unique needs of each young athlete. Whether it’s through physiotherapy, integrating primitive reflexes, or addressing fascial adhesions, we’re here to support your child’s health and well-being.
Get Help Today
If your child is going through a growth spurt and complaining of pain, don’t wait until it worsens. Contact us at PhysioActive to schedule an assessment and let us help your child get back to being active and pain-free. Our team of experts is here to guide you and your child through this challenging time, ensuring they grow up healthy, strong, and ready to take on the world.
Growing Pains in Young Athletes: Understanding and Managing the Discomfort
As a parent, it’s natural to worry when your child starts complaining of pain, especially if they’re going through a growth spurt and playing sports. Unfortunately, these aches are often brushed off as “growing pains,” but persistent discomfort could indicate something more serious. Growing pains, particularly in young athletes, can be signs of growth-related conditions that require attention and care.
What Are Growing Pains?
Growing pains are a common occurrence in children, particularly those who are active in sports. They usually manifest as pain in the legs, often in the calves, thighs, or behind the knees, and typically occur in the evening or at night. While the exact cause of growing pains is still not fully understood, they are often associated with the physical activity and muscle strain that come with being an active, growing child.
As your child’s bones grow, their muscles, tendons, and ligaments are put under increased tension, leading to tightness and discomfort. This is especially true during periods of rapid growth, where the skeletal system outpaces the development of the muscular system, putting stress on the areas where muscles attach to bones.
Common Conditions Related to Growing Pains
While growing pains are often harmless, there are several growth-related conditions that can cause significant discomfort and may require professional treatment:
- Sever’s Disease: This condition causes pain at the back of the heel and Achilles tendon, typically due to tightness in the calf muscles pulling on the heel. It’s common in children who are involved in sports that require a lot of running and jumping.
- Osgood-Schlatter Disease: This condition affects the front of the knee, around the bony bump at the top of the shin. It’s caused by tightness and pressure from the thigh and hip muscles, often exacerbated by high levels of physical activity.
- Apophysitis of the Hip: This condition causes pain in various areas of the hip due to increased pressure at the attachment points of muscles around the hip and thigh. It’s common in young athletes who engage in activities that involve running, jumping, or rapid changes in direction.
How Physiotherapy Can Help
Physiotherapy is an effective way to manage and treat growing pains and related conditions in young athletes. Our expert staff at PhysioActive have extensive experience in physiotherapy and sports injury management, ensuring that your child receives the best care possible.
Treatment typically involves a combination of hands-on therapy, specific exercises, and advice on how to manage symptoms at home. By addressing muscle tightness and improving flexibility, physiotherapy can help reduce the stress on growing bones and alleviate pain. Additionally, we provide guidance on safe ways to continue physical activity without exacerbating symptoms.
Is This Your Child’s Symptom?
If your child is experiencing pain in their legs, particularly in the hips, knees, ankles, or toes, and there’s no clear injury, it’s possible they’re dealing with growing pains or a related condition. Symptoms like muscle cramps, strains, or persistent discomfort should be evaluated by a professional to rule out more serious conditions.
When to Seek Help
If your child’s pain is persistent, affecting their ability to move, or if they’re complaining of severe discomfort, it’s important to seek professional help. At PhysioActive, we can assess your child’s symptoms and develop a personalized treatment plan to help them recover quickly and safely.
Prevention and Care at Home
While it’s difficult to prevent growing pains entirely, there are steps you can take to reduce your child’s discomfort:
- Encourage regular stretching, particularly of the thigh and calf muscles.
- Ensure your child stays hydrated, especially during hot weather or after physical activity.
- Use massage, warm baths, or heating pads to relieve muscle tension and pain.
- Ensure your child gets adequate rest and avoids overtraining or excessive physical activity.
Why Choose PhysioActive?
At PhysioActive, we understand the unique challenges that come with growing pains and growth-related conditions in young athletes. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing compassionate, effective care that helps your child stay active and pain-free. If your child is struggling with pain during a growth spurt, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to help them get back to doing what they love, pain-free and ready to thrive.
