Vitamin D is essential in the development and maintenance of healthy bones as it enables our bones to absorb calcium. Vitamin D has been shown to have very positive effects on growing pains. It has been noted to reduce the intensity and frequency of pain. Therefore giving your child a daily supplement of vitamin D is advisable. For over 5’s at least 10 mcg of vitamin D is recommended.
Long term outcome: Growing pains may be intermittent until your child reaches their skeletal maturity. Once they have finished growing they will completely resolve.
When to see your GP:
Almost 2 out of every 5 children experience growing pains. Some children are affected more than others. There are plenty of theories about the causes but no one is sure. The most common theory is that, as children grow their bones grow quicker than the muscles, leading to tightness and therefore tension of the soft tissues. There are also links to levels of activity, you may notice after a particularly active day your child’s pain may be worse. Growing pains are usually located in the shin, calf complex, thighs or behind the knees. It is almost always in both legs. The pain will usually start late in the day or around bedtime, and can sometimes wake your child at night. They can last from a few minutes to hours depending on their severity.
Growing pains should settle down with:
Get your child to lie on their back with their legs out straight. Lift one leg, keeping the knee straight and gently apply pressure to bottom of the foot pushing it towards them. They should feel a gentle pulling in the back of their leg.
Again with your child lying on their back with their knees straight, gently push the sole of the foot towards their body until they feel a pull in the calf muscle.
With your child lying on their tummy, gently flex the knee bringing the heel towards the bottom until they feel a pulling in the muscle on the front of the thigh.
