Joint Pain in Children

By Linda Rath | July 15, 2022

Joint pain is usually associated with older adults, but children and teens can have it, too. A study of more than 16,000 children aged 3 to 16 in the U.K. found that 8% (1,280) saw a primary care doctor for joint pain. For most of them, joint pain resulted from “growing pains” or, especially in athletic kids, overuse. In a small percentage of children with joint pain, however, it indicates a more serious problem such as juvenile arthritis.

What Are Growing Pains?

“Growing pains” is an old-fashioned term for pain, usually in the legs, in young children that comes and goes. It’s the most common reason for pain in kids aged 6 to 9. Growing pains are described as an ache or throbbing in the thighs or behind the knees, or less frequently in the arms. The pain is the same on both sides, strikes later in the day and may wake kids up at night.

Experts agree growing pains are not harmful, but they are at odds over what causes them. Some say they result when growing bones put tension on attached tissues, though there’s no evidence that this happens. Others say growing pains — which some doctors now call “recurrent limb pain of childhood” — are more likely due to kids being especially active — running, jumping and climbing. Still others suggest a psychological component.

There’s no medical treatment for growing pains. Parents should reassure their child that the aches are temporary and will go away after a while. In the meantime, try these simple measures:

• Massage your child’s legs.
• Try a warm bath or hot pack at bedtime to reduce muscle tension and relieve pain.
• Encourage your child to stretch during the day and cut back on, but not stop, strenuous exercise.
• Make sure your child gets adequate amounts of vitamin D; lack of the vitamin has been linked to growing pains. The minimum daily recommended amount for kids one year and older is 600 IU. Because vitamin D is produced from sun exposure and is hard to get from food, your child’s doctor may recommend giving your child a multiple vitamin or a vitamin D supplement that provides at least 600 IU.

Injuries

Acute and overuse injuries are the second most common cause of joint pain in kids, especially if they play sports. An acute injury happens in an instant; your child falls off a skateboard or twists an ankle in gym class. Overuse injuries, which are increasingly common, happen gradually when a child repeats the same movement over and over, such as overhand pitching in baseball or swimming laps. These injuries can affect muscles, tendons, ligaments and growth plates, and because the musculoskeletal system in kids are still developing, they’re more likely to get hurt.

Treating sports injuries

Children who sustain an acute injury should be checked by a doctor. For overuse injuries, these tips can help:

• Rest, it’s the best therapy for overuse injuries.
• Resume play gradually.
• Cross-train so the injury doesn’t happen again.
• Encourage kids to play more than one sport.
• Make sure they get plenty of fruits, veggies, lean protein and healthy fats like olive oil.

How Do I Know if My Child’s Joint Pain Is Arthritis?

Juvenile arthritis (JA) is relatively rare, affecting about 300,000 of the 74 million children and teens in the U.S. Other causes are far more common. Still, it’s important not to ignore pain or assume it’s benign. See your pediatrician if your child has

• Joint pain that lasts more than a few weeks
• Morning stiffness lasting longer than 15 minutes
• Swollen joints
• Trouble walking or signs of limping, especially first thing in the morning or after a nap
• Less energy than usual
• Fever with no clear cause
• Joint pain with a rash

If your child’s doctor suspects arthritis, you’ll likely be referred to a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in musculoskeletal and autoimmune disorders. JA covers a broad range of diseases, including lupus and vasculitis, a blood vessel disorder, and it may take time to get a correct diagnosis. In the meantime, the rheumatologist will work to relieve your child’s joint pain, often with drug as well as nondrug therapies.