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Bone strength in children with growing pains: long-term follow-up

Y Uziel1, G Chapnick, A Oren-Ziv

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel. uziely@zahav.net.il

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology
|February 14, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Children with growing pains (GP) showed improved bone strength over 5 years. Low bone strength at follow-up predicted persistent pain, suggesting GP may be an overuse syndrome in some cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Orthopedics
  • Musculoskeletal Health
  • Pediatric Rheumatology

Background:

  • Growing pains (GP) are common in children, characterized by recurrent limb pain.
  • The underlying pathophysiology of GP and its long-term effects on bone health remain unclear.
  • Previous studies suggest potential links between bone strength and pain in children with GP.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess changes in bone strength in children with a history of growing pains after a 5-year follow-up.
  • To investigate the correlation between bone strength measurements and the persistence or resolution of growing pains.
  • To explore the potential of bone strength as a predictor for long-term pain outcomes in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative ultrasound was used to measure bone strength (speed of sound).
  • A cohort of 39 children previously diagnosed with growing pains was re-evaluated after 5 years.
  • Bone strength data were compared to normograms from 1085 healthy children, and current pain status was assessed via parental questionnaires.

Main Results:

  • Bone strength significantly increased in the cohort over the 5-year period (Z score 0.65±1.77 vs. -0.62±0.90, p<0.001).
  • No significant difference in bone strength was found between children whose GP resolved and those who continued to experience pain (p=0.71).
  • A Z-score <-1 for speed of sound was associated with persistent growing pains in 20% of patients (p=0.003).

Conclusions:

  • Pain improvement in most patients with growing pains (GP) occurred concurrently with increased bone strength.
  • These findings support the hypothesis that growing pains may represent a local overuse syndrome in some children.
  • Bone strength, particularly low speed of sound, may serve as a biomarker for persistent symptoms in growing pains.
Abstract

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