Many children wake throughout the night with unexplained leg pain. This is commonly known as "growing pains." This continual leg pain can happen in children as they grow, and it can be very scary for both the kids and the parents. Fortunately, the child will eventually grow out of the pain, but you can seek chiropractic care to help alleviate it to a degree. Here are some things you should know.
What Causes Growing Pains?
There is no one particular cause of growing pains in kids. Some medical experts attribute the pain to muscle fatigue brought on by the child's daily activities. Doctors do not prescribe more than over-the-counter pain relievers or a massage to kids with growing pains.
What Treatment Does a Chiropractor Prescribe?
If you feel your child needs more intervention to deal with growing pains, you can opt for chiropractic care. According to many chiropractors, there are many different issues are behind growing pains.
On your first visit, the chiropractor will take a full medical history and note the child's milestones with regard to first steps, first run, daily physical activity, and so on. The chiropractor will also want to know what, if any, physical trauma your child has overcome and any residual symptoms stemming from it. This can include birth trauma, broken bones, significant falls, and the like.
The chiropractor may also ask if you ever put your child in a walker when he or she was a baby. A common theory is that children who walked before the leg bones were mature could have growing pains later in life. Premature walking maneuvers put too much stress on the leg muscles if they are not developed, which can result in problems with the growing process.
A chiropractor can help provide relief by looking at the child's spine. The doctor will take x-rays of the spine to see whether or not it is in alignment, as many will attribute the leg pain to improper alignment. He or she will look for misalignment that is causing stress on the nerves that run down the legs. The doctor will then adjust the spine to help restore proper function of the nerves, which will help alleviate leg pain.
Growing pains in children are very unnerving for everyone involved. However, a chiropractor will do more than just provide medication. If you are seeking another pain relief option for your child, consider chiropractic services.
