My clinic welcomes young athletes experiencing pain or discomfort from sport, activity, or rapid growth.
I’m increasingly seeing children around ages 11–12 struggling with muscle and joint pain linked to growth spurts and puberty. If your child is suddenly picking up more injuries or complaining of aching legs or tight muscles, this is often a normal part of development, not necessarily something more serious.
With 17 years of experience running a dedicated children’s injury clinic, I help young athletes manage these changes, recover properly, and continue enjoying sport both in and out of school.
I also work as a Dance Injury Therapist with The Brighton Academy, supporting over 300 students on a full-time professional training programme giving me extensive experience managing the demands placed on growing bodies in high-level sport and performance.

During growth, the bones in the leg grow quickly — driving increases in height.

Muscles and tendons don’t always keep up at the same pace, which can create:

• Tightness through the legs
• Increased strain around the knees
• General aches during or after activity

This temporary imbalance is a common cause of pain in growing athletes.

During these phases, a small adjustment in activity can make a big difference:

• Reduce intensity temporarily
  A short step back now can prevent longer-term injury
• Manage training load
  Consider easing off multiple weekly sessions or back-to-back activities
• Encourage recovery
  Rest days are essential while the body adapts
• Use simple tools
  Foam rolling (especially quads) and sports massage can help relieve tightness
• Communicate with coaches
  A lighter schedule for a few weeks can protect your child’s long-term progress

When you bring your child in, the priority is understanding exactly what’s driving their discomfort.
While growth spurts are often a key factor, they’re not always the full picture. That’s why I take the time to carry out a thorough assessment including a detailed case history and targeted questioning to pinpoint where your child is in the injury cycle.
From there, I create a clear and simple rehabilitation plan that fits easily around school, sport and family life.
The focus is on:

• Keeping things easy to follow
• Making exercises engaging and age-appropriate
• Helping your child stay motivated and consistent

Children respond best when they understand why they’re doing something, so I make sure everything is explained in a way that makes sense to them.
As a parent myself, I know the importance of keeping things practical, positive, and realistic so your child can recover well and get back to doing what they enjoy.