Muscle tension at the periostium of the tibia (sheath surrounding the bone) can lead to tension and inflammation and tenderness at the front and side of the shin bone. It’s usually caused by overuse.
You experience:
A crescent shape located between the shin bone and the thigh bone, the medial meniscus acts as a shock absorber and allows the bones to fit together well. It tends to get injured when there has been a sudden impact to the knee caused by twisting or it can gradually be damaged over time through wear and tear. An orthopaedic test (McMurrays and Apleys) can be done to determine if this is the cause of pain and swelling.
You experience:
Affecting up to 45 per cent of youngsters, growing pains tend to
hit between the ages of seven and 12. They are caused by the muscles
and not the bones. One hypothesis is that during a ‘growth spurt’,
a child bones grow rapidly. The muscles which surround these bones
struggle to keep up with the speed of the bone growth and therefore,
as they are stretched, become very tight. They pull on their
attachments via their tendons, which can be very painful, and can
sometimes result in conditions such as Osgood Schlatters. Growing
pains tend to make themselves known after a day of heavy exertion.
Although they are fairly common and can be painful and distressing, growing pains will not cause long-term damage.
How to recognise growing pains:
