[Growing pains. Simplified treatment regimen]

The purpose of this study is to show that a simplified stretching exercise regimen for the pelvic limbs, together with analgesics and physical therapy, may improve growing pains during an 8-week period. The Evans and Scutter diagnostic criteria modified by Peterson were used.

Prospective, longitudinal study of the clinical trial type, conducted from November 2002 to December 2008. The following tests were requested from patients: CBC, rheumatoid factor, antistreptolysins and a pharyngeal smear. A simplified regimen consisting of three stretching exercises for the adductors, the knee extensors and the hamstrings, plus analgesics and physical therapy was used. Both parents and patients were instructed on the regimen. The treatment was performed by parents at home.

The sampling was non-randomized; patients were selected based on the diagnosis. The statistical analysis included the central tendency measurements and scatter plots, the Z-test for comparison of means, and the linear correlation.

The correlation between treatment and pain relief resulted in an r = 0.97, the correlation between pain and the study variables resulted in the following: sports practice r = 0.82, obesity r = 0.86. The Z-test corroborates the improvement in the clinical picture with the treatment provided, with p = 0.0001.

The simplified treatment regimen was effective to improve growing pains in the patients in the study. The high risk factors were: age, male gender and practicing sports.