Abstract
Background: Growing pain is a common cause of musculoskeletal discomfort in childhood and may be confused with pain related to trauma or sports overload. Correct clinical differentiation is essential to avoid unnecessary diagnostic studies and to recognize warning signs early. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, including studies that compared clinical characteristics of growing pain and traumatic or sports-related musculoskeletal pain in children aged 2 to 14 years. Observational studies, systematic reviews, and clinical guidelines published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese were included. Results: Growing pain is characterized by bilateral nocturnal lower limb pain without inflammatory signs or functional limitation during the day, whereas traumatic or sports-related pain presents a clear temporal association with physical activity, focal tenderness, and objective physical findings. Variability in diagnostic criteria among studies limits the comparability of evidence. Conclusion: Growing pain represents a benign and clinically distinct entity. The accurate application of clinical diagnostic criteria and the recognition of alarm features can optimize diagnostic decision-making and reduce the unnecessary use of complementary studies.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dyla Gomes Lima, Mauro Perugino (Author)