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ARE “GROWING PAINS” REAL

25 years ago when I was a medical student we were thought that the rapid growth of bones caused stretching of the muscles which was responsible for the pain experienced during childhood.

But despite widespread acceptance of this claim, there is virtually no evidence that it’s true. Most studies have found instead that the pains experienced during adolescence — which can affect nearly half of all children — result from brittle bones and, local overuse syndrome in particular overuse from running, climbing and jumping during the day. When your child complains of pain pay attention to their activities.


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