Growing pains are common in childhood, but that doesn’t make them
any easier to handle. When your child wakes with achy legs at night,
you may feel helpless and tired right along with them. With the right
support, many kids may find relief so evenings feel calmer and they
can get back to sleeping more soundly and staying active during the day.
Growing pains are a common cause of leg discomfort in children, often showing up in the early years and sometimes returning during the school-age stage. If your child has ever curled up in your lap at bedtime with sore legs, you know how hard it can be to watch them hurt and not be sure what to do. Most children feel growing pains as aching or throbbing in both legs, especially in the thighs, calves, or behind the knees. Some kids also describe more general aches after long, active days, which is why it helps to notice where the pain shows up and how long it lasts.
Despite the name, growing pains aren’t caused by bones growing too quickly. They’re more often linked to tired or overworked muscles, busy days of running and playing, or rapid stages of development that place extra demand on a child’s body. Discomfort may come and go, with stretches of time in between when your child feels completely fine.
Although growing pains can be frustrating for both kids and parents, they’re usually harmless. Understanding what they are and how they tend to show up can make it easier to support your child at home, help them find relief, and feel more confident about when it might be time to check in with a healthcare provider.
Growing pains most often show up in the legs and usually affect both sides at the same time. Your child may complain that “my legs hurt” without pointing to one exact spot, or they may notice certain areas more than others. Paying attention to where the discomfort shows up can help you understand what your child is feeling and how to help them find relief.
Many kids feel growing pains in the front or back of their thighs. This dull, achy discomfort usually affects both legs and tends to show up after active days, especially in the evening or at bedtime.
Aching or cramping in the calves is one of the most common spots for growing pains. Your child may rub the backs of their lower legs, and gentle stretching or massage may help them find relief.
Some children notice soreness behind their knees after running, climbing, or jumping. This can be part of growing pains, but it should not cause swelling, redness, or limping, which call for a check-in with a healthcare provider.
Dull, lingering discomfort along the front of both lower legs, or shins, can also be part of growing pains. It often feels worse in the evening, and a warm bath or light massage may help your child relax and find relief.
Children are constantly moving, exploring, climbing, running, and jumping, which may leave their leg muscles tired by the end of the day. That extra fatigue often shows up as nighttime aches.
During periods of quick growth, kids’ bones lengthen faster than their muscles can adapt. This may create temporary tension in the legs.
Repetitive activities like soccer practice, playground time, or long days on their feet can stress growing muscles. When those muscles work harder than they’re used to, soreness may follow later on.
As children grow, their coordination and posture are constantly shifting. These natural adjustments may place extra strain on certain muscles or joints, leading to off-and-on discomfort.
36.9% of children experience growing pains in early childhood1
84.3% of children with growing pains feel discomfort in both legs rather than just one2
69.8% of children with growing pains have a family history of the same condition3
33% of children with growing pains use some form of symptom-relief treatment at home2
Most growing pains show up in early childhood and school-age years, when kids are developing quickly. Their bones and muscles are changing fast, which may make them more sensitive to everyday strain.
Children who run, jump, climb, or play sports regularly may feel soreness later in the day. All that activity can leave their leg muscles tired, which may lead to nighttime aches.
When a child shoots up quickly, their muscles sometimes struggle to keep pace with their lengthening bones. That extra tension may make their legs feel achy.
Some kids naturally have hypermobile joints or lower arches, which may cause their muscles to work a bit harder during play. That added effort may contribute to the on-and-off aches associated with growing pains.
The aches from growing pains may come and go, but when they flare up, they can interrupt playtime, bedtime routines, and a child’s ability to rest comfortably.
Growing pains may be frustrating, especially when they disrupt sleep or catch your child off guard after a busy day. The good news is that these aches are usually temporary, and with the right support and care, your child may stay active, comfortable, and confident as they grow.
Kids may find some relief at home through gentle stretching, warm baths, light massage, or a calm nighttime routine. These simple approaches may help ease tension in tired muscles, especially after a long day of activity. Over-the-counter pain relievers may offer temporary comfort, but they do not address why the discomfort keeps returning.
Chiropractic care focuses on healthy movement and alignment, which may help reduce muscle strain and support growing bodies as they stay active. Licensed chiropractors deliver gentle, non-invasive adjustments designed to improve how the spine and joints move and function. Better alignment may help reduce tension, ease irritation, and support the nervous system, giving children the comfort they need to stay active, rest well, and move confidently through each stage of growth.
To help you find relief, chiropractors identify and address:
There are many potential health benefits of chiropractic care for growing pains, including:
Walk in for quality, affordable care that fits your schedule. Enjoy hassle-free visits and same-day relief.
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3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
During a growth spurt, kids may feel aches in their legs because their muscles and soft tissues are working hard to keep up with rapidly lengthening bones. This muscle fatigue often settles into the thighs, calves, or behind the knees, especially after active days. The discomfort may come and go, and it often feels stronger in the evening.
Growing pains typically show up in children between ages three and 12. They tend to occur in waves, often lining up with periods of rapid growth or busy days filled with running, climbing, and playing. Not every child experiences them, but for those who do, the symptoms usually lessen as they move into their teenage years.
Comforting at-home care may go a long way. Gentle massages, stretching, warm baths, and a cozy bedtime routine may soothe tired leg muscles. Supportive footwear and regular movement during the day may also help reduce nighttime discomfort. If the pain keeps happening or interrupts daily activities, a chiropractor or healthcare provider may help assess alignment and address muscle tension.
They are called growing pains because the aches often appear during times when children are physically developing and becoming more active. While the pain is not caused directly by bone growth, the combination of muscle fatigue, busy days, and evolving movement patterns tends to show up during growth spurts. The name stuck because the timing matches the stages when kids are doing a lot of growing.
Growing pains are real and recognized by healthcare providers. They are a common pattern of recurring leg aches in children, usually happening later in the day or at night. Even though the exact cause is still being studied, the discomfort kids feel is genuine, and supportive care may help them feel more comfortable.
Growing pains often feel like a deep ache or throb in the legs, especially in the thighs, calves, or behind the knees. Some kids describe it as a strong soreness after a long day of activity. The aching usually appears in both legs and may come on suddenly in the evening or during the night, then fade by morning.
Nighttime relief often starts with gentle steps like stretching the legs before bed, massaging the sore areas, or placing a warm compress on the thighs or calves. A calm bedtime routine may also help relax tense muscles. If the pain is frequent, talking with a chiropractor or healthcare provider may help identify whether alignment or muscle tightness is contributing.
Growing pains tend to come and go over months or years, often appearing during active periods or growth spurts. Each episode may last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, but many children are comfortable again by morning. Most kids eventually outgrow the discomfort as their bodies develop and their movement patterns become more stable.
Growing pains are considered a normal part of childhood for many kids. They happen in up to one-third of children and usually follow busy days filled with play and movement. Even though the aches may be uncomfortable, they are rarely a sign of something serious, and supportive care may help keep kids sleeping and moving comfortably.
Magnesium is sometimes discussed as a possible support for muscle tension, but research on magnesium specifically for growing pains is limited. Some families find it helpful through food sources or supplements, but it is always best to check with a pediatrician before trying anything new. Stretching, warm baths, and massage remain some of the most reliable at-home options.
Growing pains may wake a child from sleep because the discomfort often peaks in the evening or nighttime hours. The aches may feel more noticeable when kids finally slow down after a busy day. Gentle massage, stretching, or warmth may help settle things down so they can fall back asleep more comfortably.
Fourteen-year-old elite dancer Lilliana shares how nonstop training and competitions leave her hips, ankles, back, neck, shoulders and hamstrings feeling the strain. Regular visits to The Joint Chiropractic help realign her body so she can move more freely, perform bigger and feel better. She credits chiropractic care with helping her stay mentally and physically ready to dance for hours at competitions.
1 Evans, A. M., & Scutter, S. D. (2004). Prevalence of “growing pains” in young children. The Journal of Pediatrics, 145(2), 255–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2004.04.045
2 Liao, C., Wang, L., Lee, J., Wu, K., Lin, Y., Yang, Y., Chiang, B., & Yu, H. (2022). Clinical, laboratory characteristics and growth outcomes of children with growing pains. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 14835. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19285-3
3 Evans, Angela M., et al. ““Growing Pains” in Young Children: A Study of the Profile, Experiences and Quality of Life Issues of Four to Six Year Old Children with Recurrent Leg Pain.” The Foot, vol. 16, no. 3, Sept. 2006, pp. 120–124, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foot.2006.02.006
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