What are Growing Pains around the Hip & Pelvis: Apophysitis and Avulsion Fracture: And Why

What argrowing pains, apophysitis and avulsion fractures?  

What are “growing pains”? This is a general term used for pain associated with growth in children and adolescents. In younger children, the pain is thought to be associated primarily with muscles and is most commonly experienced in the thighs and calves. In adolescence, growth-related pain is most likely to be due to traction of muscles pulling on bony growth centres, called apophyses, which are where the muscles attach to the bone. Pain or inflammation of an apophysis is diagnosed as apophysitis. Occasionally, a rapid large muscle force may even disrupt the growth centre, with the muscle pulling away a small piece of bone from the main part of the bone (Figure 1). This is known as an avulsion fracture. 

The bones of the hip and pelvis viewed from the front. Growth centres (apophyses) are delineated by the dotted red lines.These are sites of apophysitis and avulsion fracture where a small bit of bone may dislodge and the muscle that attaches there. Most common sites are depicted on the right and less common on the left of the picture. ASIS: anterior superior iliac spine. AIIS: Anterior inferior iliac spine
The bones of the hip and pelvis viewed from the front. Growth centres (apophyses) are delineated by the dotted red lines.These are sites of apophysitis and avulsion fracture where a small bit of bone may dislodge and the muscle that attaches there. Most common sites are depicted on the right and less common on the left of the picture. ASIS: anterior superior iliac spine. AIIS: Anterior inferior iliac spine

Possible sites of apophysitis or avulsion fracture around the hip & pelvis,
from most common to least common include (Figure 1): 

  • The hamstring muscle insertion onto the ischial tuberosity (sitting bone), accounting for over 50% of cases of pelvic apophysitis¹
  • The rectus femoris muscle insertion onto the front of the pelvis (AIIS), accounting for just over 20%¹ 
  • The sartorius muscle insertion onto the front of the pelvis (ASIS), accounting for almost 20% of cases¹

and much less commonly² ³:  

  • The iliopsoas muscle (hip flexor) insertion onto the lesser trochanter of the femur (thigh bone) 
  • The hip abductor (gluteus medius and minimus) muscle insertion onto the greater trochanter of the femur (Figure 1) 
  • The abdominal muscle insertion onto the top of the pelvis (Iliac crest) 

What are growing pains usual symptoms? 

pubic symphysis pain, groin pain, pubic related groin pain injury in young footballer

Apophysitis 

  • The pain of apophysitis is generally experienced locally at the area of muscle attachment but can radiate around the area as well.   
  • There is also often tenderness at the muscle attachment for most sites. The iliopsoas (hip flexor) muscle insertion onto the lesser trochanter of the femur (Figure 1) is located deep beneath the inner thigh muscles and is therefore not easy to touch. 
  • Pain is usually worst following activity and eases with rest. 

Avulsion fracture 

  • Young athletes presenting with an avulsion fracture commonly report an episode of sharp, sudden pain during a forceful movement and sometimes an accompanying sound, like a ‘pop’. 
  • Swelling and bruising and tenderness may develop over the area  
  • There is usually an immediate loss of muscle power related to pain or more significant bony disruption. This may result in a limp and difficulty lifting the knee up in front (rectus femoris, sartorius or iliopsoas muscle attachments) or the heel up behind (hamstring muscle attachment). 

What causes apophysitis or avulsion fracture around the hip and pelvis? 

Apophysitis 

Apophysitis is due to long bones such as the femur (thigh bone) growing more quickly than the muscles of the thigh or hip. The relatively tight muscles then tug on the growth zones in the immature pelvis and femur, which is why the condition is often referred to as traction apophysitis.  

Factors related to the development of apophysitis include: 

  • Muscle tightness – for example, shortened hamstring muscles in the back of the thigh will place greater loads on the apophysis at the ischial tuberosity (sitting bone). 
  • Rapid growth spurts – this problem often comes and goes during adolescence, with symptoms recurring during or just after a growth spurt. This is a period where the muscles are relatively shortest compared to the newly lengthened bones. 
  • Being male – apophysitis is more common in males, generally because males tend to grow in more rapid spurts. 
  • High activity levels – being very active places repetitive loads on the growth plates, which if combined with the other factors above, may contribute to the development of pain. 
  • Type of activity – sports that involve rapid acceleration and deceleration, and large ranges of hip movement, such as soccer and gymnastics, place greater load across the hip and pelvic growth centres (4). 

Avulsion Fracture 

An avulsion fracture almost always occurs in response to a large, rapid force where the muscle is in a position of stretch and contracting very hard, pulling on the growth centre.   

  • An avulsion fracture of the ischial apophysis occur typically as a result of a large force exerted by the hamstring muscles in the back of the thigh, with the muscle on stretch. A position of stretch for the hamstrings is one in which the hip is flexed (knee towards the chest) and the knee is straight or close to straight (Figure 2). This might occur in ‘pike’ type positions, front splits (front leg) or in a high kick to the front.  
  • An avulsion fracture of the rectus femoris, sartorius or iliopsoas muscle attachments typically occurs with a large force where the thigh is moving backwards (hip extension). For a rectus femoris avulsion, the most common type, the combination of the thigh moving backwards with the knee bent, (hip extension and knee flexion) creates highest stretch and greatest force on the growth centre at the front of the pelvis. This may occur during a rapid backflip (Figure 3), a forceful backwards kick or a wind up for a soccer kick.  FAI growing pains apophysitis and avulsion fracture can occur with kicking sports
a position of hip flexion (thigh towards chest) and knee extension (knee straight). This position places the hamstring muscles on high stretch and places high loads on the boney growth centres at the muscle attachment to the ischial tuberosity (sitting bone)
A position of hip flexion (thigh towards chest) and knee extension (knee straight). This position places the hamstring muscles on high stretch and places high loads on the boney growth centres at the muscle attachment to the ischial tuberosity (sitting bone)
A position of hip extension (thigh moving backwards) and knee flexion (knee bend). This position places the hp flexor muscles, and particularly the rectus femoris, on high stretch. High loads are placed on the boney growth centres at the muscle attachments to the front of the pelvis and the lesser trochanter of the femur (thigh bone).
A position of hip extension (thigh moving backwards) and knee flexion (knee bend). This position places the hp flexor muscles, and particularly the rectus femoris, on high stretch. High loads are placed on the boney growth centres at the muscle attachments to the front of the pelvis and the lesser trochanter of the femur (thigh bone).

In answer to the question what are growing pains, now you will have a much better understanding of what they are, the possible causes of growing pains in adolescents and why they can occur.

Make sure you read our next Blog where we will look at possible treatment options, what are they for apophysitis and avulsion fractures that occur around the hip and pelvis, and how can your hip pain professional help you. 

growing pains apophysitis avulsion fracture header

 Visit our Pain Locator Map to learn more about soft tissue related pain in different regions around the hip and pelvis, or other causes of groin pain. 

Need Help? How Can A Hip Pain Professional Help?

Your Hip Pain Professional can:

  • provide a thorough assessment of all the soft tissues in the groin region 
  • refer you for appropriate scans, if necessary 
  • provide or refer you for rehabilitation of this area,  
  • provide advice and/conditioning for successful return to sport 
  • refer you to a surgeon or provide surgery (if your HPP is a surgeon) – this is rarely required but may be necessary with more severe hernias or abdominal tendon tears.

Kirsty McNabDr. Alison Grimaldi

Authors

This blog was written by Dr Alison Grimaldi and Kirsty McNab, physiotherapists who have over 50 years of combined professional clinical experience, dealing with patients suffering from a wide range of hip and pelvic conditions.

Dr. Alison Grimaldi BPhty, MPhty(Sports), PhD is Practice Principal of Physiotec Physiotherapy, an Australian Sports Physiotherapist and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the University of Queensland, author and global educator.

Kirsty McNab BSc Hons, MPhty(Sports), is Practice Principal of Physiologix and a highly experienced Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist having worked extensively with elite athletes, the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, and Tennis Australia.

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Check Out More You Can Read on this Area at HipPainHelp:

 

  1. Treatment for Growing Pains in Adolescents: Treatment for apophysitis & treatment for avulsion fracture? Related to the hip and pelvis, what is the treatment for growing pains, specifically treatment for apophysitis and treatment for avulsion fracture

  2. Anterior Hip Pain Pain at the front of the hip may be related to Apophysitis and avulsion fractures in kids and adolescents, but there are also many other possible reasons – learn more here.

  3. Acetabular Dysplasia This is a condition that may be missed in infants and only detected as your child become more active and a little older, or even into their adolescent years. Learn more about this condition and its symptoms.

  4. Groin Pain Groin pain is pain this experienced in the groin region and the inside of the upper thigh. There are many potential causes for groin pain. Understand more about the anatomy of the area and things that may go wrong
  5. Lower buttock pain Pain felt over this region may also be from hamstring related issues as well as a few other conditions. Learn more here.
  6. Hip Pain Explained Explore more about possible causes of pain throughout the hip and pelvis region.
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