Children
Toddlers
22 November, 2025
Growing pains is a commonly used term to describe leg pains in young children. There is no strict medical definition, and it is often considered a diagnosis of exclusion — meaning it’s used when leg pains don’t fit any other condition.
Growing pains is a commonly used term to describe leg pains in young children. Although there is no strict medical definition, clinicians often use it as a diagnosis of exclusion — meaning the term applies when a child’s leg pain does not match any other specific condition.
Growing pains usually affect both legs and are felt more in the muscles than the joints, often around the calves and shins. Children typically report pain in the late afternoon, at bedtime, or overnight. They may even wake seeking comfort or massage. These pains may appear nightly or only occasionally, and they often feel worse after busy or active days. Importantly, episodes can come and go for many months or even years.
Because several conditions can cause leg pain, it’s important to make sure the symptoms truly match growing pains. You should see your GP if your child has red, hot, or swollen joints; pain that continues into the morning; or severe pain that doesn’t improve with standard pain medication. Additionally, symptoms such as fever, limping, or general unwellness should always be checked promptly.
Growing pains are more likely when the discomfort affects both legs, occurs later in the day, settles overnight, and improves with massage, warmth, or simple pain relief.
Although there is no cure for growing pains, you can help manage your child’s symptoms and keep them comfortable. Helpful strategies include using heat packs, offering warm baths, providing gentle massage, and using pain relief as recommended by your doctor or pharmacist. Distraction, such as quiet activities or calming play, can also help children cope during painful episodes.
While no specific exercises or stretches have been proven to prevent or cure growing pains, some children find them soothing. And although these episodes can be distressing for families, the good news is that children do eventually grow out of them.
Although growing pains can be distressing for children and their families, you can be reassured that children do eventually outgrow them.
Autism
Children
April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to increase understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In Australia, over 205,000 people are affected by autism. Children with ASD often face challenges with movement and motor skills, and physiotherapists play a crucial role in providing support.
Children
Did you know that the Queensland Government is supporting families to access up to $200 in FairPlay Vouchers to help cover the cost of sports and recreation activities for kids? 🎉 This is a great opportunity to support your child’s physical development and encourage an active lifestyle!
Children
Toddlers
While most children are naturally more flexible than adults, some are particularly bendy. When a child’s joints move beyond the typical range, this is called hypermobility. People with hypermobility are often casually described as “double-jointed.”