Four-year-old boys enjoy being physically active, which can sometimes lead to aches and pains. Leg pain in children can occur anywhere between the hips and toes as the result of injury, overuse or underlying medical conditions. If your 4-year-old son experiences persistent leg pain, see a pediatrician for a diagnosis.
Muscle Cramps and Spasms
Muscle cramps and spasms are common causes of leg pain in children, according to Childrens' Hospital of Denver. Cramps and spasms can occur during physical activity or while a child is sleeping. Heat can intensify cramps that occur during exercise and physical activity. Cramps and muscle spasms usually last for one to 15 minutes. Rest, water and salt can help to ease the cramping. Allow your child to rest until their muscle cramps or spasms subside. Have your child drink plenty of water as they exercise and throughout the day. The National Academy of Sports Medicine recommends eight glasses of water per day. While running, your son is likely to experience sweating. Sweat contains fluids along with salt. A lack of sodium in your son's body can lead to cramping and muscle spasms. Increased salt in the diet, drinking a sports drink while running or taking a salt supplement can help reduce muscle cramps and spasms. Talk to a pediatrician about concerns related to salt intake before supplementing.
Sports Injuries
Four-year-old boys are sometimes active in sports. Leg pain can be the result of spraining a knee, ankle or muscle. These injuries can also cause limping. Other sports related injuries are related to overuse -- excessive running, jumping and playing . The Childrens' Hospital of Denver indicates that 50 percent of all injuries seen in pediatric sports medicine offers are related to overuse injuries. Sports-related injuries should be seen by a doctor to treat the injury and rule out a more serious injury such as a bone fracture.
Growing Pains
The Childrens' Hospital of Denver indicates that 10 percent of all healthy children suffer from growing pains. Growing pains are harmless and normally occur in the thigh or calf muscles. They can occur in one or both legs. After a child runs or is extremely active is when growing pains usually occur. Growing pains may last from 10 to 30 minutes at a time.
Legg-Perthes Disease
Legg-Perthes disease is a condition that causes leg pain in children between the ages of 3- and 10-years-old. Legg-Perthes diseases causes the blood supply to the thigh bone to be interrupted resulting in pain and limping. This can also cause the bone to stop growing. This condition requires treatment. Treatment may include physical therapy, casts, crutches, bracing and occasionally surgery. With treatment, your son will be able to resume normal activity without pain or limping.
Leg Length Differences
Some children are born or develop a discrepancy in the lengths of their legs as they grow. The discrepancy may be small or large -- ranging from just more than zero cm to 15 cm. For minor differences, a shoe lift can be used to treat the condition. For large discrepancies, surgery may be required. Surgery can increase the length of the short leg or decrease the length of a child's longer leg.
References
- Children's Hospital of Denver; Leg Pain; August 1, 2010
- KeepKidsHealthy.com; Leg Pain and Limping
- "National Academy of Sports Medicine: Essentials of Personal Fitness Training"; Scott Lucett; 2008
