Growing pains: contemporary knowledge and recommended practice

Table 3 Summary of the only randomised controlled trial for treatment of growing pains (GP) (Baxter & Dulberg, 1988).

No. pain episodes per month	Group 1 – treatment Muscle stretching program * n = 18	Group 2 – control Reassurance, leg rubs, acetyl-salicylic acid n = 16
Beginning of trial	10	10
3 months	1	6
9 months	0	3
18 months	0	2

The RCT for management of GP revealed a statistically significant difference between the treatment and control groups of children (aged 5 – 14 years). However the study was biased, with no examiner blinding. Additionally, sample sizes are small and statistical power was not calculated.
* Parents were taught a muscle stretching program for quadriceps, hamstrings and gastroc-soleal groups. All stretches were performed twice daily (morning and evening) for 10 minutes each time.

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