What is
muscle pain?
When your child complains of pain in the arm
or leg muscles it is usually from a muscle cramp or strain.
This type of pain is usually not caused by a specific
injury. Muscle pain often follows vigorous or excessive
exercise (overuse).
What is the
cause?
There are two main causes of muscle pain.
Brief muscle pain is usually due to a cramp. Foot or calf
muscles are especially prone to cramps that can awaken a
child from sleep. Cramps become more frequent in children
who do not get enough calcium. Continuous pains are usually
due to strenuous activity (muscle overuse) or forgotten
muscle injuries during the preceding day. Both of these
normal muscle pains are sometimes called "growing pains"
although they are caused by muscle use and not by bone
growth.
How can I
take care of my child?
- Treatment for
muscle cramps
Muscle cramps occur in a third of all
children. During attacks, stretch the painful muscle by
pulling the foot and toes upward as far as they will go
to break the spasm. Massaging the painful muscle with an
ice pack is also very effective. Future attacks may be
prevented by daily stretching exercises of the heel
cords (lean forward at the ankles with the knees
straight). Also be sure that your child is getting
enough calcium. Milk, dairy products, and
calcium-fortified orange juice are good sources of
calcium.
- Treatment for
strained muscles
Put a cold pack or ice bag on the sore
muscles for 20 minutes. Repeat this 3 or 4 times a day
for 2 days. If the muscles are still stiff on the third
day, have your child take a hot bath for 20 minutes and
gently exercise the hurt muscle under water. Give
acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the pain.
When should I call my child's health care provider?
Call IMMEDIATELY if:
- The muscle pain is severe AND persists
more than 2 hours after your child takes pain medicine.
- A joint becomes swollen.
- Your child starts acting very sick.
Call during office hours if:
- The pain persists more than 7 days.
- You have other concerns or questions.
