Growing Pains

Growing pains are recurrent aches or throbbing, usually felt in both legs — often in the calves, shins, or behind the knees — that typically occur in the late afternoon or evening and resolve by morning. They are common in children, generally affecting kids between about 3 and 12 years of age, and the legs usually look and move normally when examined.

If your child has been waking with sore legs or complaining of aches after an active day, you're not alone — and there's plenty we can do to help you understand what's going on.

What causes growing pains?

The exact cause of growing pains is not fully understood, and despite the name, there's no firm evidence they're caused by growth itself [1][2]. Current thinking links them to the normal demands placed on a child's developing muscles, bones and ligaments — particularly after busy, active days. Because the definition has historically been inconsistent, a recent scoping review highlighted that "growing pains" is best thought of as a pattern of symptoms rather than a single diagnosis [2].

Common features include:

• Aching or throbbing in both legs (not just one)
• Pain in the muscles (calves, shins, behind the knees) rather than the joints
• Discomfort in the late afternoon or evening, sometimes waking a child from sleep
• Legs that feel and look completely normal the next morning

How can Blueprint Podiatry help with growing pains?

At Blueprint Podiatry in Tuggerah, our podiatry team takes a careful, child-friendly approach. Our three registered podiatrists each hold a Bachelor of Podiatry, are trained in Foot Mobilisation Therapy, and are certified Level 1 Running Coaches — which means a genuine understanding of how children's feet, legs and gait work during activity and sport.

Your child's appointment may include:

• A thorough history and examination to confirm the symptoms fit the pattern of growing pains and to help rule out other causes
• Gait and biomechanical assessment to identify any foot or leg factors that may be contributing to discomfort
• Footwear guidance suited to your child's activities and foot type
• Stretching and load-management advice to help manage symptoms around busy days and sport
• Custom orthotics where clinically appropriate — designed using weightbearing 3D scanning and 3D printed in-house as patient-matched left/right devices, with no external-lab delay

We focus on practical strategies that fit family life, and we'll always explain what we find in plain language.

When should you seek help?

Growing pains are generally harmless and self-limiting [1]. However, it's worth seeking a professional assessment if your child has:

• Pain in one leg only, or pain over a joint
• Swelling, redness, warmth or tenderness
• Limping, fever, weight loss or pain that persists into the morning
• Pain that's worsening or interfering with daily activity

These features fall outside the typical pattern of growing pains and deserve proper evaluation.

Related services

• Children's Podiatry