A Message for Parents and Guardians
If your child has been complaining of pain in their legs, knees, or feet, particularly at night or after activity, you have probably heard of the phrase “growing pains.” You may have been reassured and left with few answers. It is an area that is poorly understood and common guidance is that your child will quickly grow out of it.
For some children, that may be true. But for many, the pain continues sometimes for years. It disrupts sleep, limits activity, and causes genuine distress. And the label “growing pains” can prevent further investigation into what may be a treatable underlying cause.
The Hawkins Institute was founded to change this. We are conducting one of the largest research studies of its kind, and we need parents like you to help. Your experience and your child’s experience is central to building the evidence that will lead to better understanding, better diagnosis, and better treatment.
In the meantime, if you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, you can find further information about the Harley Street Growing Pain Clinic here.
What Parents Might Notice
Every child is different, but there are common patterns that parents frequently describe:
Avoiding sport
Reluctance to participate in PE, playground games, or physical activities they once enjoyed
Posture or gait concerns
Limping, walking on tiptoes, feet rolling in, and other musculoskeletal or gait observations
