Growing pains are common in children and are usually harmless—often showing up as aching in the legs after an active day and improving with rest. But when your child’s discomfort is focused in the feet or heels, happens repeatedly, causes limping, or limits play, these might be symptoms of something else. Foot pain can signal a developing biomechanical issue, inflammation in the growth plate, or a structural problem that benefits from early attention. Read on to learn what our experienced podiatrists at Neville Foot & Ankle Centers define as growing pains—and when you should schedule a consultation for a podiatric examination.
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What Are the Causes and Symptoms of Growing Pains?
Many children might complain of aching in their calves, shins, and thighs, but not in their knees or hips. The exact cause of growing pains isn’t fully understood, but they’re often linked to muscle fatigue from daytime activity and rapid growth periods. However, factors like flat feet can also increase strain. More on that in a moment.
Typical symptoms of growing pains include aching or throbbing pain later in the day or at night, pain that may affect both legs, and discomfort that improves by morning. There’s usually no swelling, redness, fever, or lasting limp—and kids can generally play normally during the day.
What Are the Signs of Pediatric Foot Conditions?
Growing pains are often blamed when kids complain about aching legs, but recurring pain—especially when it’s linked to activity or foot alignment—may point to a specific condition that needs podiatric treatment. At Neville Foot & Ankle Centers, we often help children suffering from:
- Sever’s disease, which causes heel growth plate irritation.
- Iselin's disease, which affects the outside of the foot, especially in children who are active in sports or dance.
Other risk factors of foot pain include:
- Fat feet or feet that roll inward/outward and affect alignment.
- Knock-knees, because this misalignment changes how weight travels through the legs and feet
- Tight muscles, especially the calves, hamstrings, and hip external rotators, which increase strain during activity.
Call us for a complete examination if your child talks about symptoms such as:
- Pain during activity, often along the inside of the shin, ankle, or foot
- Early fatigue with walking, running, or sports
- Avoiding activity or limiting participation in sports and play
- Lower back discomfort that may be linked to altered gait and mechanics
At our four convenient locations throughout Montgomery County, our skilled pediatric podiatrists evaluate how your child’s feet are growing, assess gait and alignment, and identify the true source of pain so we can tailor a treatment plan to your child's specific needs. Our recommendations may include:
- Switching to more supportive shoes to better support their feet and lower extremities.
- Customized prescription orthotic inserts to realign their footfall and gait. In many cases, this approach has a relatively quick positive effect on reducing foot and leg pain.
- Physical therapy to improve overall muscle flexibility and to improve muscle strength, coordination, and balance.
If pain is persistent, localized to one area, associated with swelling, or causes limping, it’s worth getting checked out by the foot care professionals trusted by Texans since 1986.
