Weak bones may contribute to the "growing pains" in some children. The term "growing pains" describes the recurrent aches many children feel in their legs during the growth-spurt years, typically between the ages of 3 and 5 or 8 and 12 years. The pain appears to emanate from the leg muscles, rather than bones, and it cannot be attributed to an injury or underlying medical condition. Many experts believe growing pains are a response to the running, jumping and generally rough-and-tumble lifestyle of children. The leg pain nearly always crops up at the end of the day, particularly if it's been a highly active day. Researchers from the Meir General Hospital in Kfar-Saba, Israel, found that, children who complained of such aches had less dense shinbones compared with the norm for their age. The researchers looked at whether bone strength might also be involved. They used ultrasound scans of children's shinbones to measure bone density and strength. Of the 39 children, 28 percent showed lower-than-average bone density in the shin. The findings suggest that relatively weaker bones might make some children more vulnerable to pain from exercise. This does not mean that parents should stop their children from being active; the reduced bone strength seen in some children is probably innocuous. Moreover, exercise helps build bone during childhood. Previous studies have found that children who complain of growing pains also seem to be more sensitive to pain than their peers, suggesting that pain perception may help determine which children suffer from growing pains. The studies suggest that growing pains may reflect an "overuse syndrome" that particularly affects children with a low tolerance for pain. However, the findings are likely not a cause for concern. The children in this study were healthy, and there's no evidence linking growing pains with higher rates of bone fracture. Researchers are continuing to follow the children to chart changes in their bone strength and pain.
Journal of Rheumatology,
August 2005