"Is It Just Growing Pains? What Every Parent of a Young Athlete Needs to Know"

As a parent, hearing your child say “my knee hurts” or “my legs are sore” might bring a familiar response:“It’s probably just growing pains.”

And sometimes… it is.

But as someone who works with young athletes every day, I can tell you: not all pain is normal — and brushing it off could lead to long-term issues that are 100% preventable.

What Are Growing Pains, Really?

Growing pains are usually described as dull, aching pains that happen in the muscles — often in the thighs, calves, or behind the knees. They tend to show up at night and disappear by morning. They’re common between the ages of 3 and 12 and usually don’t affect athletic performance or cause swelling, limping, or pain with movement.

But here’s where things get tricky.

When your middle or high school athlete starts feeling pain during practice, after games, or when walking up stairs — that’s not a growing pain. That’s the body signaling something is off.

Red Flags That It’s NOT Just Growing Pains:

• Pain consistently located around the knee, ankle, or hip

• Limping or avoiding pressure on one leg

• Swelling, popping, or clicking in the joint

• Complaints of pain during or after activity

• Pain that gets worse over time, not better

• Soreness in one leg only — growing pains usually affect both

These are signs of common but treatable issues like:

• Tight quads or hamstrings pulling on growing joints

• Patellar tracking problems from poor movement mechanics

• Overuse injuries from repetitive drills or year-round sports

• Lack of mobility or stability in key joints (hip, knee, ankle)

Why Early Intervention Matters

Kids are resilient — which means they’ll keep playing through pain if they can. But compensating for that pain often causes imbalances, bad habits, and injuries down the line. What starts as a minor ache could turn into months off the field if it’s not addressed early.

Getting your child assessed and treated before things escalate is not just smart — it’s an investment in their long-term health and performance.

What I Do to Help

I work with youth athletes to identify the root cause of their pain — not just treat the symptoms. Through targeted mobility work, soft tissue therapy, strengthening exercises, and personalized education, we get them back to doing what they love, safely and confidently.

And most importantly, we build habits that protect their body as they grow and compete.

If You're a Parent Reading This...

Don’t wait until your child is limping or sitting out games. If they’re hurting, let’s take a look together. It’s not about pushing them harder — it’s about helping their body keep up with their goals.

Because pain shouldn’t be the price they pay to play.

👉 Ready to schedule a session or just want to ask questions? Reach out today — I’m here to support you and your athlete every step of the way.