Paediatric Hip Pain

The most common causes of hip pain are:

• Transient synovitis
• Septic arthritis
• Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses
• Leg-Clave-Perthes disease

Your podiatrist will conduct an in-depth evaluation to accurately determine the cause of your child’s hip pain.

If your child’s hip pain persists and is not relieved by:

• Rest
• Ice
• Heat
• Prescription pain relievers

Or if there are signs such as:

• Pain that is increasing in intensity
• An inability to move their legs normally
• An inability to bear weight on that leg
• Signs of infection (fever, chills, swelling, or redness)

Seek a specialist’s opinion as soon as possible if your child is displaying any of these signs.

Growing pains are misnamed as the process of growth does not cause pain. The pain can instead be attributed to cases of soft tissue overuse in the hips which are common in children under the age of 10 who have gone through a full day of physical activities. These pains are most often felt at night and usually resolve by the next day, allowing the child to resume their activities.

However, serious hip issues may be more chronic and can hinder the child’s level of activity consistently. Consult a podiatrist if you are unsure about whether your child’s hip pain is due to overuse or a more serious hip condition. Knowing the difference and rectifying the cause is imperative to resolving your child’s pain.