Is there a correlation between growing pains and parent-child bed-sharing?. Issue 3 (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smith, Patrick J.; Moisan, Alice; Sawyer, Jeffrey R.; Spence, David D.; Warner, William C.; Kelly, Derek M.
• Is Part Of: Current orthopaedic practice. Volume 29:Issue 3(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: sleep patterns -- lower extremity -- children -- muscle aches; Orthopedics -- Periodicals; 616.7005
• DOI: 10.1097/BCO.0000000000000610
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1940-7041

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate a possible correlation between parent-child bed-sharing and growing pains. Methods: A questionnaire inquiring about bed-sharing habits of children and parents and the location, duration, intensity, and treatment of the child's growing pain was completed by a consecutive series of families whose child (ages 3-10 yr) presented for evaluation of pain ultimately diagnosed as growing pains. A consecutive series of children (ages 3-10 yr) with a distal radial buckle fracture served as the control group. Results: Twenty-two of 44 (50%) families in the growing pain group answered "yes" to the bed-sharing question. Only 16 of 54 (29%) in the control group answered "yes." Bed-sharing rates were significantly different between groups ( P = 0.048). However, the mean age between the groups was also significantly different (growing pains group = 6.9 yr, control group = 5.5 yr, P = 0.002). To control for age, all patients over 7 yr from both groups were eliminated for analysis. Results revealed that the mean age was similar ( P = 0.15) in both groups, but the rate of bed-sharing was no longer significantly different (growing pains group [50%], control group group [38%], P = 0.123). Conclusions: Despite finding that the rate of parent-child bed-sharing was 50% in our growing pains population, when we controlled for age, there was no difference from our control. Parent-child bed-sharing does not seem to be a significant component of growing pains. Bed-sharing could be a possible mechanism to manage a child's growing pains.