Muscle Pain In Children – 9 Causes, 9 Symptoms & 5 Treatments You Should Be Aware Of

Written by Manjiri Kochrekar
Last Updated on

Do achy hands and legs keep your dear little one awake through the night? Does he fear to use his hands and legs actively? If you nodded along in agreement, you might want to read our post. Your little one might be suffering from muscle pain. What is muscle pain? How do you to identify it? How do you treat it? Learn answers to all your queries here.

What Is Muscle Pain?

Muscle pain in children results due to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. It occurs when pressure, injury, or inflammation affects fascia, a connective tissue that surrounds the muscles. Muscle pain may involve just as single muscle or groups of muscles, and it can occur in any part of his body. It is necessary to treat your child’s muscle pain immediately, as it may lead to the development of other hazardous health conditions.

Causes Of Muscle Pain In Children:

Children are more prone to bruises, bumps, strains, injuries, and wounds. A muscle injury or cramp that occurs while playing can cause muscle pain to your kid. Excessive strain on a specific muscle or groups of ligaments, tendons, muscles can lead to acute pain in his muscles. Common causes of muscle pain in children include:

  1. Injury to muscle fibers
  1. Continuous and repetitive motion
  1. Muscle strain, sprain, or cramp
  1. Lifting of a heavy item
  1. Exercising without proper stretching
  1. Running without warming up
  1. Swinging a heavy bat
  1. Faulty sleeping posture
  1. Reckless jumping and climbing (1)

Symptoms Of Muscle Pain In Children:

If your child suffers from muscle pain, he will exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:

  1. Pain in muscles
  1. Muscular weakness
  1. Inflammation or area that turns red
  1. Swelling
  1. Cramping
  1. Muscle spasm
  1. Limping
  1. Behavioral disturbances
  1. Fear to perform certain activities that involve the painful muscle (2)

Treating Muscle Pain In Children:

Muscle pains are quite common among children. Around 49% of muscle pains in children heal gradually and naturally without any treatment. If your child suffers from pain that doesn’t subside and requires medical attention, consider opting for one of the following treatments:

1. R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation):

When you discover, your child has muscle pain, ensure he rests for first 24 hours. Then place ice packs on the inflamed or swollen area for about 30 minutes. Follow the process for four hours for three continuous days. You can also apply pressure to the sore area by using a tensor bandage. Finally, elevate the painful and sore area.

2. Medications:

If your child suffers from chronic muscular pain, then certain anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal medications can help alleviate your pain. Seek medical assistance when giving medications, such as acetaminophen, opioids, and medications for muscle spasm and sleep. If the pain doesn’t subside, you may need to go for trigger point injection.

3. Physical Therapy:

If the pain stays for a long time, physical therapy may work. Seek the guidance of expert physiotherapist to educate your child all appropriate physical exercises and ensure your child performs them regularly till the muscle pain subsides.

4. Massage Therapy:

Massage therapy improves blood circulation in the affected area and provides your child relief from the muscular pain.

5. Surgery:

If none of the treatments work, your doctor may recommend a surgery. Ensure that an experienced, expert surgeon operates your child, and your kid gets enough rest after the surgery. (3)

Did your child suffer from muscle pain at any time? How did you treat it? Share your valuable experience with other moms below. Post your story in the comments.

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