What are growing pains?
Growing pains encompass a range of injuries that occur in the bones, tendons, and muscles of young athletes during periods of rapid growth. These conditions often involve the interaction between the growing bone and the surrounding soft tissues.
At the commencement of the bodies largest period of growth (around 11 to 14 years old) a growth plate or apophysis forms. An example of an apophysis is the bump below your kneecap where your patella tendon attaches. During periods of growth, the bones lengthen and remodel through the process of ‘ossification’. However, the apophysis, which is the site where tendons attach to the bone, remains relatively soft compared to the surrounding bone.
When young athletes engage in activities such as running, jumping, or kicking, the repetitive movements cause the tendons to exert a pulling force on the growth plate. This constant strain can exceed the capacity of the growing bone and cause micro-injuries to the growth plate. Over time, these micro-injuries can lead to inflammation, resulting in pain and discomfort.
What are the symptoms?
Let’s use the example of a 14-year-old soccer player who feels a gradual onset of pain at the front of their hip that progressively worsens over time. They train three times a week, and they describe the pain as ‘always lingering and achy’. They might find it painful to run, jump, and kick, and it doesn’t seem to have gotten better after a few weeks. These symptoms may indicate the presence of a growth-related injury
What should I do if I think my child is showing these symptoms?
It is easy to dismiss these complaints as mere ‘growing pains’ and hope they will resolve on their own. However, early assessment and diagnosis are key to ensuring a safe level of activity during this critical period of physical development. Failure to act can lead to more serious injury such as a fracture to the growth plate in which it becomes separated from the bone. The most effective course of action is early diagnosis with a physiotherapist. This allows for a thorough physical assessment and movement analysis which will then determine the safest means of remaining physically active without placing excess stress on the delicate growth plate.
Who am I and how can I help?
I am Anthony Lamanna, a Physiotherapist at Evado Studios Hawthorn and I also work with the Melbourne City Junior Development Academy. My experience in this professional environment has exposed me to numerous kinds of growth and developmental-type injuries. As a result, I have developed the necessary skills and knowledge to not only identify these kinds of injuries, but the means by which to manage their rehabilitation until they take the field again.