Growth Without Groans Causes and Cures for Growing Pains
Growing pains can ruin a good night’s sleep for children and young teens. These intense pains often strike healthy youngsters for 10 to 15 minutes at a time in the afternoon, evening, or overnight, usually in the knees, thighs, calves, or shins. Healthy growth is often the cause. Children’s tendon connections are softer than adults’. Their bones grow faster than their muscles and tendons, causing painful strains. Growing pains occur in the afternoon more than half the time, according to a 2011 study of 30 cases. Both legs usually hurt, causing the kids to wake up and cry. In 80% of cases, the pain occurred only weekly or monthly. Only 5% of the children had pain daily, and 15% only experienced discomfort every three months.
and bony attachment of tendons in children and teens. A physical therapist can help by massaging and strengthening tight muscles and working to improve the mobility of stiff joints. Children also can benefit from a home exercise program. Try incorporating these simple stretching exercises into your child’s other daily routines, such as brushing their teeth. Quads: Have your child lie on the floor on their stomach, grab both ankles, and pull them forward toward their hips, stretching the quadriceps. Calves: The child places their toes on a step or stationary block, leaving the heels free, then lowers and lifts them gently to stretch the calf muscles. Hamstrings: Have your child sit on the floor with their back against the wall and stretch their arms
forward toward the toes, gently extending the tendons along the back of the thigh.
Our physical therapists have helped many children through growing pains by reducing their discomfort, improving their balance, and restoring muscle strength and mobility. We also can reassure parents and children alike that just as these youngsters grow into this problem, they will grow out of it!
The scientific name for one cause of this problem is traction apophysitis, an injury to the cartilage
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Citrus BBQ Chicken Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
Ingredients
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8 skin-on chicken leg and thigh pieces
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3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 1/3 cups ketchup 2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Juice and zest of 1 orange Juice and zest of 1 lemon
2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
1. Place chicken in a large resealable plastic bag. Combine all other ingredients in a small bowl. 2. Reserve 1 cup of the sauce and add the rest to the plastic bag. Toss to evenly coat the chicken and marinate overnight. 3. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add remaining sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer to thicken sauce, about 10 minutes. Set aside. 4. On grill set for medium-high heat, arrange chicken skin side down. Cook until grill marks form, about 4 minutes. Flip chicken, cover grill, and cook until a thermometer inserted into thighs reads 165 F, about 20–25 minutes. 5. Serve with remaining sauce.
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