--- title: "Growing Pains | Sutter Health" description: "Growing pains is a harmless condition of unknown cause that affects 10% to 20% of growing children & is somewhat more common in girls." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/growing-pains" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Health and wellness](https://www.sutterhealth.org/health) / 3. Growing Pains # Growing Pains * * * September 27, 2024Medically reviewed by [Sally S. Harris, M.D., MPH](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider/dr-sally-s-harris-1046242529) “Growing pains” is a harmless condition of unknown cause that affects 10 percent to 20 percent of growing children. It’s somewhat more common in girls. Despite the name, growing pains: - Do not occur during the time of most rapid growth, such as the adolescent growth spurt. - Do not occur at specific sites of growth. - Do not affect the growth of children who have them. - Occur in children 3 to 12 years of age. About one-third of children with growing pains also experience other forms of recurrent pain, such as headaches or abdominal pain. ## Symptoms of Growing Pains - Pain usually occurs in both legs, especially thighs and calves, but may affect one leg at a time or different parts of the leg at different times. Pain in the arms is less common, but may occur along with leg pain. If the pain is localized to a single specific joint, it’s probably not growing pains. - Pain occurs almost exclusively in the evenings and at night, often causing awakening during the night. - Pain does not occur consistently during daytime activities or interfere with usual playground, recreational or sports activities. However, children may complain more frequently during nights that follow very active days. - Growing pains do not cause limping. - Pain may occur for months or years, as frequently as almost every night, often with symptom-free intervals of weeks or months. Symptoms may wax and wane but usually remain stable with time. Most children outgrow growing pains within several years. - Children with growing pains have normal physical exam results. The results of X-rays and lab tests, although usually not needed, are also normal. - Stretching the legs’ large muscle groups—as the calves and thighs—can lessen symptoms, but is often impractical for young children. To ease discomfort, try a massage, heating pad or a mild nonprescription pain medication. ## Symptoms Unrelated to Growing Pains If your child has any of the following symptoms, it’s probably not growing pains: - Symptoms of general illness, such as fever or weight loss. - Pain specific to a single joint. - Pain worsening with time. - Pain interfering with usual daytime activities. - Limping. - Abnormal joint symptoms, such as restricted motion, redness, swelling, warmth or tenderness in the related area. **Reviewed by:** Elizabeth W. Lee, M.D. **Last reviewed:** August 2019 ## Explore related topics [Parenting preteens and teens](https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/articles?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_healthTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Parenting+preteens+and+teens%22%5D%7D%2C%7B%22i%22%3A%22builtin.entityType%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Sutter+Health+Page%22%5D%7D%5D&limit=10&verticalKey=health-and-wellness) ## Meet our care team ![Sally S. Harris, M.D., MPH](http://a.mktgcdn.com/p/onZU8m7ojQgN_ZzBULk3tN_2Zo9a2IHCNnRcdtEPdU4/480x480.jpg) [Sally S. Harris, M.D., MPH](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider/dr-sally-s-harris-1046242529) Sports Medicine ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","name":"Growing Pains | Sutter Health","description":"Growing pains is a harmless condition of unknown cause that affects 10% to 20% of growing children & is somewhat more common in girls.","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/growing-pains","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/growing-pains#breadcrumblist"}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","headline":"Growing Pains","alternativeHeadline":"Growing Pains | Sutter Health","description":"Growing pains is a harmless condition of unknown cause that affects 10% to 20% of growing children & is somewhat more common in girls.","datePublished":"2024-09-27T15:20:55Z","dateModified":"2024-11-13T18:09:09Z","publisher":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org"},"@type":"MedicalWebPage","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/growing-pains#breadcrumblist"},"reviewedBy":[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Person","name":"Sally S. 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