GROWING PAIN

What is normal timing for growth?

Growth can be classified as on-time, early or late. Children of the same age group can vary by 5-6 years in terms of skeletal age. This is why children in a team often vary in size but are the same age. Whether a child is early, on-time or late—it is important to emphasise that this is normal. The growth spurt (period of rapid growth) generally occurs around 14 years for males and 2-3 years earlier for females. During this time, growth can occur at around 8-14cm per year. Gains in weight occur generally 3-6 months after the growth spurt.

What can physiotherapy do for a growing child in pain?

1. Seek advice from a GP if your child’s pain is sudden or severe. Seek a physiotherapy assessment if you think your child’s pain is related to growth
2. Advice and education for the athlete and parents/coaches regarding growing pain being normal
3. Modification of training and playing loads to prioritise important sessions and games
4. Strength exercises specific to their stage of growth and the growth spurt