2023-06-23 15:03:43
[박승찬 하이키한의원 대표원장] When treating short children, I often meet children who say that their legs or ankles hurt. Pain in the lower extremities that occurs during the growing period is often referred to as growing pains. Many people think that growing pains do not require special treatment. But is it really so?
Growing pains are a characteristic symptom of growing children. Especially when it comes to pain in the knees or ankles. Sometimes the wrist hurts, and growing pains appear in the shoulder or back. Growing pains usually appear in the joints or may appear as muscle pain, such as calf or thigh pain. Parents complain that their children have leg pain or that their knee hurts.
Park Seung-chan, the representative director of Haiki Oriental Clinic, sometimes thinks lightly that it is a symptom that appears when you are tall.
In general, when growing pains occur, warm compresses, full body baths, and massages relieve the pain. Diseases that must be distinguished from growing pains include ankle sprains, fractures, dislocations, rheumatoid arthritis, and infectious diseases. The characteristic of growing pains is that the pain gets worse in the followingnoon on days when there is a lot of activity, and there is no fever or swelling in the painful area. It is said that there is pain in the evening without any external abnormality, and in severe cases, it is so painful that it is impossible to sleep.
Children with severe growing pains have one thing in common. According to body composition analysis, growing pains are especially severe in children who lack minerals. Most of the minerals are important substances in the formation of bones and teeth. In particular, most of the minerals that make up bones are calcium. So, a lack of minerals also means a lack of calcium.
Calcium plays an important role in maintaining bone and muscle health. Bones are the main store of calcium, and without sufficient calcium supply, bones can become weak and break easily. Therefore, it is important for growing children to maintain bone health by consuming enough calcium.
Calcium is also needed for muscle contraction and relaxation. Muscles control movement through interaction with nerves, and calcium is involved in signal transmission inside muscle fibers. If sufficient calcium is not supplied, muscle function may deteriorate, which may worsen the symptoms of growing pains. Therefore, sufficient calcium intake is important for children who suffer from growing pains. In general, the recommended amount of calcium intake for growing children varies according to age, but in general, it is 700 mg per day from 1 to 3 years old, 1,000 mg per day from 4 to 8 years old, and 1,300 mg per day from 9 to 18 years old.
Calcium is mainly obtained from dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese. In addition, green vegetables, seafood, nuts, etc. are also rich in calcium. However, growing children may lack calcium intake from food alone. So, it is recommended that children with severe growth pain take calcium supplements. If your child is experiencing severe or persistent growth pains, it is recommended that you consult a growth specialist.
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