Growing pains could be warning signs in children who play sport

Sports medical check-ups can help detect imbalances, overuse and other factors that may increase the risk of injury during childhood and adolescence

So-called growing pains are common during childhood, particularly after days involving more physical activity. However, assuming that every ache or pain is simply part of growing up can mean that sports injuries or other problems requiring medical assessment go unnoticed, especially in children and teenagers who regularly take part in sport.

“Growth-related pain generally involves discomfort in the bones that appears during certain stages of development and is associated with rapid bone growth. The musculoskeletal system develops in a particular way: during maturation, the bones grow first and the muscles follow. As a result, when bones increase in length faster than the muscles, pain can occur due to increased tension where the muscle tendons attach to certain bony prominences or growth plates. The most common problems affect the knee, such as Osgood-Schlatter disease, or the heel, as in Sever’s disease,” explains Dr Soledad Hernández, a paediatrician specialising in paediatric and adolescent sports medicine at Hospital Quirónsalud Torrevieja.

Muscle discomfort can also occur as a result of training overload or poor technique when performing repetitive movements.

“It is important to remember that children and teenagers are not simply small adults. Their musculoskeletal system is still developing and has different characteristics from that of an adult,” Dr Hernández adds.

Growth-related pains usually affect both legs and do not prevent children from carrying out their normal daily activities.

“Medical advice should be sought when pain repeatedly occurs in the same place, is persistent, appears during exercise, causes a limp, restricts movement or is accompanied by swelling. Any pain that changes a child’s normal activity should be assessed,” she warns.

Growing and training at the same time

Sport offers numerous benefits for children and teenagers, but specialisation and intensive training are beginning at increasingly younger ages. During this period, overuse, biomechanical imbalances, nutritional problems and discomfort associated with different stages of development can arise.

For this reason, sports medical check-ups for children can help assess how a young person is growing and identify potential risk factors for injury before they develop into a more serious problem.

“Children and teenagers are still developing, so physical activity needs to be adapted to each stage of growth. Injury prevention is particularly important when they train regularly,” says Dr Hernández.

The importance of properly assessing young athletes

A sports medical assessment includes a review of the child’s personal and family medical history together with a comprehensive physical examination. It can also identify compensatory postures, musculoskeletal imbalances, gait and foot mechanics, strength and flexibility, as well as other factors that may increase the risk of injury.

Assessment can be complemented by an anthropometric study, providing information about body composition, nutritional status and growth, together with nutrition and hydration advice tailored to the child’s age and the sport they practise.

“The aim is not for children to train more, but for them to be able to take part in sport safely, while respecting their growth and development,” concludes Dr Hernández. “We should not assume that every pain is normal simply because a child is growing.”