Growing Pains

Your five-year old complains that her legs hurt and the pain sometimes disturbs her sleep at night. Your mother laughs it off as "growing pains" and tells you to relax, she'll grow out of it. But are there really such a things as "growing pains"?

Children playing soccer.

Up to 40% of children in early childhood (3-5 years of age) and adolescence (8-12 years of age) experience growing pains. They mostly occur in the late afternoon or early evening, although they have been known to wake a sleeping child.

Generally, the pain is located in muscles in the calves, thighs, or behind the knees. The pain occurs in both legs and there is no swelling or redness present.


Of course, if your child is experiencing pain, it is wise to rule out other causes, especially if any of the following symptoms are also present:

  • Limping
  • Fever
  • Redness or swelling of the joints (knees or ankles)
  • Pain that won't go away
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fatigue

Often times, a visit to our office will uncover a spinal problem that may be contributing to your child's pain. Chiropractic adjustments are modified to take the size of the child into consideration. Many children seem to enjoy better health and a decrease in pain after beginning chiropractic care in our office.

Please let us know if your child is experiencing any type of pain for which a cause cannot be found. We will be happy to examine your child to determine whether there is any type of spinal nerve interference that could be a contributing factor. We do not believe that any child should have to live with "growing pains."

Dr. Scott Asks some important questions of interest to Prescott residents - Chiropractor Prescott Dr. Scott Asks...

What's the difference between sick care and health care?
Sick care is largely about relieving or suppressing symptoms. Health care is about improving performance. While sick care is about how you feel, health care is about how you function. Sick care is what you do to treat an obvious problem, and health care is what you do to avoid the problem and advance your well-being.
Where do most Prescott residents get their first vertebral subluxation complex?
Being born in a hospital is a common source of vertebral subluxation complex. Trauma from forceps delivery has been replaced with drugs, vacuum extraction, Cesarean section and births that are "scheduled" to fit the workweek routines of Ob-Gyns. That's why we recommend a chiropractic checkup for every Prescott newborn.