The scientific name for growing pains is benign nocturnal limb pains of childhood.
Growing pains is also sometimes referred to as traction apophysitis, specifically when it relates to the pain at growth plates in children such as in Osgood-Schlatter disease.
Growing pains is a term that is a descriptive term for a pain syndrome which occurs in children, although the exact cause of the growing pains in not fully understood and it's not directly related to the rapid growth that children experience.
Osgood-Schlatter disease is painful inflammation which affects children and teens, where their kneecap or patella connects to their shin bone tibia.
It's also sometimes called Osgood-Schlatter disease growing pains.
Growing pains are a common condition in childhood that causes achy or cramping pains in the legs of children, and often occurs in the child's shins, calves or behind their knees.
The growing pains often occur late in the day or at night and may even wake the child up from sleeping during the night.
The exact cause of the growing pains is not yet known, although the growing pains are believed to be related to muscle overuse and fatigue and not bone growth.
Growing pains can be managed at home using gentle massages, warm compresses, stretching exercises and over the counter pain medications which can help to relieve the pain and discomfort.
Also encouraging the child engage in physical activity and strengthening hypermobility through physical therapy can also be beneficial to a child going through growing pains.