Leg muscle pain from hard work or sports (muscle overuse)
Pain is not caused by an injury
Also called muscle overuse syndrome
Call or Return If
Fever, limp, or a swollen joint occurs
Pain caused by work or sports lasts more than 7 days
You think your child needs to be seen
Your child becomes worse
About This Topic
Symptoms
Pain in the leg muscles
The quads (muscles in front of the thigh) are the most common site.
Pain Scale
Mild:
Your child feels pain and tells you about it. But, the pain does not keep your child from any normal activities. School, play and sleep are not changed.
Moderate:
The pain keeps your child from doing some normal activities. It may wake him or her up from sleep.
Severe:
The pain is very bad. It keeps your child from doing all normal activities.
Causes
Constant leg pains are often from hard work or sports.
Examples of triggers are hiking, running, or jumping too much.
Muscle pain can also be from a forgotten injury that occurred the day before.
After Care Advice
Overview:
Strained muscles from overuse are common after too much exercise or hard sports.
Examples are hiking or running.
Weekend warriors who are out of shape get the most muscle pains.
Here is some care advice that should help.
Pain Medicine:
To help with the pain, give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Use as needed.
Cold Pack:
For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
Put it on the sore muscles for 20 minutes.
Repeat 4 times on the first day, then as needed.
Caution: Avoid frostbite.
Heat Pack:
If pain lasts over 2 days, put heat on the sore muscle.
Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth.
Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed.
Caution: Avoid burns.
Activity:
Avoid activities that increase the pain.
Continue gentle stretching exercises.
Prevention of Recurrent Leg Pains:
Research has shown that daily stretching exercises can prevent some leg pains.
Have someone teach you how to stretch the quads, hamstrings, and calf muscles.
Stretch each muscle in sets of 10. The best time is before and after playing sports.
Also, be sure your child gets enough calcium in the diet. Daily Vitamin D3 may also help.
What to Expect:
A strained muscle hurts for 3 to 7 days. The pain often peaks on day 2.
After severe overuse, the pain may last a week.
Author:Barton Schmitt MD, FAAP Copyright
Disclaimer:This health information is for educational purposes only. You the reader assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.
