If you’ve ever watched a child clutch their heel after football training, wince climbing the stairs, or complain of aching legs at bedtime, you’ll know how quickly a parent’s mind can start to worry. Is it just growing pains? Should we be concerned? Do they need to stop sport altogether?
As parents and grandparents, ourselves, we understand these worries well. Children are wonderfully active, resilient, and always growing — but that constant growth and activity can also make them prone to a unique set of aches, strains, and developmental issues that simply don’t affect adults in the same way.
At Thorpes Physiotherapy, we see this every day. And it’s exactly why we believe children deserve care from someone who specialises in treating them — not a generic, one-size-fits-all approach borrowed from adult physiotherapy.
The Injuries We See Most Often in Active Children
Children who play sport, dance, or simply run around with friends every day are amazing to watch — but their bodies are still developing, and this makes them susceptible to specific injuries that are quite different from what we see in adults.
Some of the most common issues we treat include:
Sever’s Disease – A common cause of heel pain in growing children, particularly those involved in running or jumping sports. It occurs at the growth plate in the heel and often flares up during growth spurts. My 12 year son Marcus recently had this.
Osgood-Schlatter Disease – This affects the area just below the kneecap, where the growth plate is still developing. It’s especially common in children going through rapid growth alongside sporting activity, such as football, netball, or gymnastics.
General growing pains – Aches, particularly in the legs, that often appear in the evening or after a busy day. While usually harmless, persistent or one-sided pain is always worth having checked.
Postural issues linked to screen time – With more children spending long periods gaming, watching TV, or on tablets and phones, we’re increasingly seeing postural problems, tightness, and reduced movement patterns that can affect how a child sits, stands, and moves.
Sporting injuries – Having worked closely with local gymnastics clubs over the years, we’ve supported many young athletes through sprains, overuse injuries, and flexibility-related issues specific to their sport.
None of this means your child needs to stop being active — quite the opposite. Movement and sport are brilliant for children’s physical and emotional development. But when pain or injury occurs, it needs to be assessed and managed with an understanding of the growing body.
Why Children Are Not “Mini Adults”
This is one of the most important messages we share with families: children cannot be treated the same way as adults.
Their anatomy is different. Growth plates — areas of developing cartilage at the ends of bones — are present in children and teenagers, but not in adults. These growth plates are often the source of pain and injury, and they need to be assessed and treated with specific knowledge of paediatric development.
Their injuries are different too. A child’s aches may stem from a growth spurt, poor movement patterns, or postural habits — not necessarily the same soft tissue injuries an adult might experience. Because their bodies are still forming, treatment needs to be gentle, appropriate for their age and stage, and focused on supporting healthy development rather than simply “fixing” the pain.
This is exactly why Thorpes Physiotherapy has a specialist paediatric physiotherapist on our team — someone with specific training and experience in treating children, from babies through to young adults. Their approach is built entirely around understanding how children grow, move, and recover differently to adults.
You can read more about how we support children of all ages here: 👉 Paediatric Physiotherapy at Thorpes
Why Specialist Experience Matters
Over the years, we’ve built strong relationships with local gymnastics clubs, supporting young athletes through the physical demands of their sport. This experience has given us deep insight into how children’s bodies respond to training, growth spurts, and repetitive movement — and how to guide them safely through recovery and back to the activities they love.
Whether your child is a budding gymnast, a football fanatic, or simply an energetic youngster who loves to run around the garden, having a physiotherapist who understands paediatric development means:
- Injuries are assessed accurately, taking growth plates and development into account
- Treatment plans are age-appropriate and safe
- Children feel comfortable, reassured, and supported throughout their sessions
- Parents receive clear guidance on what to expect and how to help at home
Not Sure If It’s “Just Growing Pains”? We’re Here to Help
We understand that it’s not always easy to know whether your child’s aches are simply part of growing up, or something that needs a closer look. If you have any concerns about pain, posture, developmental milestones, or your child’s movement — we’re always happy to talk it through.
We see children of all ages, from babies through to late teens, and we’re proud to offer a warm, reassuring environment where both children and parents feel listened to.
If you’d like to explore this further, why not come in for a chat?
👉 Book a Free Discovery Visit — a relaxed, no-pressure opportunity to discuss your concerns with our specialist team.
Helping Your Child Move, Grow, and Thrive
Children’s bodies are remarkable — constantly changing, growing, and adapting. With the right specialist support, most childhood aches and injuries can be managed effectively, allowing children to stay active, confident, and pain-free as they grow.
If you have any worries about a child or grandchild in your family, don’t wait for things to escalate. Early guidance often makes all the difference.
If you would prefer to book your child in for a full assessment, then this can be booked online the button below. It might be better to call our team though on 01276 37670, this way we can ensure an appointment is made with a Physio most suited to treating children.
I hope this has been interesting and of value to you.
Warm regards
Jonathan Smith (MSc BSc FSOMM MCSP SRP)
Director of Thorpes Physiotherapy
For more information about my background, please click here