Community Health Network

Leg Pain
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Symptom
Description

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Call?

Care at
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Does this describe your child's symptoms?

Definition

Pain in the legs
The pain is not due to a known injury
Minor muscle strain and overuse injury are covered in this topic

Causes

Main Causes: Muscle spasms (cramps) and strained muscles from overuse injury (e.g., excessive running or jumping). Up to 50% of all injuries seen in pediatric sports medicine are related to overuse.
Muscle Cramps: Brief pains (1 to 15 minutes) are usually due to muscle spasms (cramps). Â Foot or calf muscles are especially prone to cramps that occur during exercise or that awaken your child from sleep. Muscle cramps that occur during exercise are also called heat cramps.Â They often respond to extra water and salt.
Strained Muscles: Continuous acute pains (hours to 3 days) are usually due to overstrenuous activities or forgotten muscle injuries during the preceding day. Can occur in arms or legs.
Growing Pains: 10% of healthy children have intermittent, harmless pains that are often referred to as growing pains (although they have nothing to do with growth)
Viral Infections: Muscle aches are common with viral illness, especially influenza.
Serious Causes: Fractures, swollen joints (arthritis), deep vein thrombosis, neuritis

If not, see these topics

Follows injury, see LEG INJURY

Should I
Call?

Care at
Home

When to Call Your Doctor

	Call 911 Now (your child may need an ambulance) If
	Not moving or too weak to stand
	Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
	Your child looks or acts very sick Swollen joint Calf pain on 1 side lasts over 12 hours Bright red area on skin Muscle weakness or can't stand or walk Numbness (loss of sensation) present over 1 hour Severe pain or cries when leg touched or moved
	Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If
	You think your child needs to be seen Fever is present Pain makes child walk abnormally (has limp) Painful joint and can't move it normally
	Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If
	You have other questions or concerns Cause of leg pain is uncertain Leg pain present over 7 days Leg pains or muscle cramps are a recurrent chronic problem
	Parent Care at Home If
	Caused by muscle cramps in the calf or foot Caused by overuse injury (strained muscles) Cause is obvious and harmless (e.g., tight new shoes, a recent shot)

Symptom
Description

Care at
Home

HOME CARE ADVICE FOR MUSCLE CRAMPS OR STRAINED MUSCLES

Treatment For Muscle Cramps:
- Muscle cramps in the feet or calf muscles occur in a third of children.
- During attacks, stretch the painful muscle by pulling the foot and toes upward as far as they will go to break the spasm.
- Stretch the muscle in the direction opposite to how it is being pulled by the cramp or spasm.
- Apply a cold pack or ice bag wrapped in a wet cloth to the painful muscle for 20 minutes.
- If these are heat cramps (occurring during exercise on a hot day), give lots of water and sports drink in addition to stretching the muscle and a cold pack.
- Future attacks may be prevented by daily stretching exercises of the heel cords (stand with the knees straight and stretch the ankles by leaning forward against a wall). Also give the feet more room to move at night by placing a pillow under the covers at the foot of the bed. Also be sure your child gets enough calcium in the diet.
Treatment For Strained Muscles From Excessive Use (Overuse Injury):
- Apply a cold pack or ice bag wrapped in a wet cloth to the sore muscles for 20 minutes several times on the first 2 days.
- Give acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief.
- If stiffness persists over 48 hours, have your child relax in a hot bath for 20 minutes twice a day, and gently exercise the involved part under water.
Expected Course: Muscle cramps usually last 5 to 30 minutes. Once they resolve, the muscle returns to normal quickly. A strained muscle hurts for 2 to 7 days. The pain often peaks on day 2. Following severe overuse, the pain may last a week.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Muscle cramps occur more frequently
- Child develops a limp, a swollen joint, or a fever
- Pain caused by work or exercise persists over 7 days
- Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.

Symptom
Description

Should I
Call?

Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

Author and Senior Reviewer: Barton D. Schmitt, M.D.

Last Reviewed: 1/19/2009

Last Revised: 7/15/2008

Content Set: Pediatric HouseCalls Online