What are growing pains in children and when should you worry?
Growing pains in children describe a common pattern of recurring leg aches that often show up in the evening or overnight. Parents often notice them after busy days of sport, running, jumping, or lots of play. Even though the name suggests “growth” causes the pain, many children experience this as a muscle ache pattern rather than pain coming directly from bones.
Most of the time, growing pains are not serious. Still, some injuries and growth-related conditions can feel similar early on. That’s why it helps to know what the typical pattern looks like, and which signs mean your child needs assessment.
Short answer
Growing pains usually feel like an ache in the calves, thighs, or behind the knees. Symptoms tend to appear in the evening or overnight, then settle by morning. They should not cause swelling, redness, heat, or ongoing limping. If pain doesn’t match this pattern, or it limits sport and daily life, a physiotherapist can assess what’s driving the symptoms. For a full guide to youth leg pain and sports injuries, start with our Youth Sports Injuries page.
What do growing pains usually feel like?
Children describe growing pains in different ways. Some say their legs “ache”, “throb”, or feel “sore”. Others wake at night and ask for a rub. Many parents notice that their child looks fine the next morning and runs around as usual.
Typical features include:
- Evening or night-time aches (often after a very active day)
- Pain in the calves, thighs, or behind the knees
- Normal walking and running the next day
- No swelling, redness, or heat around a joint
Why do growing pains happen?
Research still debates the exact cause. However, many clinicians view growing pains as a load-and-recovery issue. In simple terms, a child’s muscles and joints may feel sore when activity ramps up faster than the body can adapt. This can happen during growth spurts, sports seasons, or when kids stack training, school sport, and weekend games.
Additionally, temporary changes in flexibility, coordination, and strength can occur as children grow. As a result, some kids place more stress through certain tissues until their movement patterns and strength catch up.
Growing pains vs sports injury
Parents often ask, “How do I know it’s not an injury?” Growing pains usually do not cause pain during sport, and they rarely cause limping. In contrast, an overload injury often hurts during or after activity and can linger into the next day.
These growth-related conditions can feel similar at first:
- Sever’s disease – heel pain linked with running and jumping load
- Osgood–Schlatter disease – pain at the front of the knee, often with kneeling and jumping
- Muscle strains or tendon overload from sprinting, kicking, or rapid changes of direction
Can my child keep playing sport with growing pains?
Many children can keep playing sport if their pain follows the typical growing pains pattern and settles by morning. However, if pain increases during activity, causes limping, or affects performance, it is sensible to pause and organise assessment to clarify the cause.
When should you worry?
Book an assessment if your child has any of the following:
- Pain during the day, or pain that reliably flares during sport
- Limping, reduced activity, or refusal to bear weight
- Swelling, redness, heat, or marked tenderness
- Persistent pain on one side only
- Pain that steadily worsens rather than coming and going
What signs suggest this is not just growing pains?
Growing pains usually come and go and do not cause day-time pain or swelling. Ongoing one-sided pain, limping, swelling, pain during sport, or pain that worsens over time suggests another cause and should be assessed.
How physiotherapy may help
A physiotherapist can check movement quality, strength, flexibility, balance, and sport load. Then they can guide practical next steps. Depending on your child’s needs, this may include pacing advice during busy weeks, simple mobility work, strength progressions, and recovery strategies that fit school and sport routines.
Equally, assessment can help rule out other causes of leg pain. That reassurance helps families make confident decisions about sport participation.
Growing pains FAQs
- What age do growing pains happen? They commonly occur in primary school years and early adolescence, but patterns vary between children.
- Do growing pains happen in both legs? They often affect both legs, although some children report one side more at times.
- Can my child keep playing sport? Many children can continue sport if symptoms fit the typical pattern and settle by morning. If pain changes or limits activity, organise assessment.
- What helps at home? Gentle massage, warmth, and simple stretches may help. Consistent sleep and sensible training loads also matter.
- When should I see a physiotherapist? If pain persists, worsens, causes limping, or comes with swelling or day-time pain, a physio can assess and guide the next step.
Related information
Book your appointment - 24/7
Select your preferred PhysioWorks clinic.
References
For youth injury assessment pathways and related conditions, visit our main page:
Youth Sports Injuries – Assessment & Management.
Follow PhysioWorks
Get free physiotherapy tips, exercise videos, and recovery advice.
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
