Knee pain in kids | 5 Common causes
Knee pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints for under 18s. There are many potential causes of knee pain in kids and it’s always worth getting a painful knee looked at. Read on to learn about the most common paediatric knee conditions that we see regularly here at The Physios.
5 Common causes of knee pain in kids
1. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)
PFPS is also known as anterior knee pain. It is an umbrella term used to describe pain at the front of the knee. The pain occurs due to irritation to the back of the knee cap (patella) and/or the groove that the knee cap sits in. It is the most common cause of knee pain in kids. Typically it affects those that do a lot of sport. However, it can also affect those at the opposite end of the spectrum that have sedentary lifestyles.
It is usually aggravated by activities like running, jumping, or climbing stairs and sometimes prolonged sitting. There can be many reasons for a child developing PFPS. Typically there is a picture of relatively high loading and biomechanical factors such as weakness around the hip and thigh.
2. Osgood-Schlatter’s
This condition causes pain and swelling at the point where the patella tendon attaches to the shin bone (tibia) just below the knee. It often causes a bony lump at the site of pain. Children aged 9-15 are most frequently affected and is more common in boys than girls. It often occurs around growth spurts and is associated with repetitive stress from activities like running and jumping. You can read in more information about Osgood’s here.
3. Sinding-Larsen-Johansson Syndrome (SLJ for short!)
SLJ is very similar to Osgood Schlatter’s but affects the opposite end of the patella tendon. Unlike Osgood’s which results in pain at the top of the shin, SLJ causes pain and inflammation at the bottom of the knee cap. It is most common in sporty children aged 9-15 and is particularly associated with sports that involve running and jumping. Symptoms will often flare around growth spurts.
4. Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)
OCD involves the separation of a segment of cartilage and subchondral bone, usually affecting the medial femoral condyle of the femur (thigh bone). Children and adolescents with OCD may experience knee pain, swelling, and mechanical symptoms like locking or catching. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent long-term joint issues.
5. Soft tissue injuries
Just like adults, children can be vulnerable to soft tissue injuries to the knee such as ligament sprains (e.g. ACL) and meniscal tears. Meniscal tears and meniscal related symptoms can be more common in children born with a discoid meniscus. This is is a congenital deformity in which children are born with an abnormally shaped meniscus; usually the lateral one (i.e. the one on the outside of the knee).
Other causes of knee pain in kids
The most common causes of knee pain are outlined above however some less common causes of knee pain in kids can include juvenile idiopathic arthritis, patella sleeve fractures, bone stress injuries and avulsions, bursitis and tumours.
If your child has been complaining of knee pain, it’s always worth getting it checked out by someone who specialises in paediatrics such as a physiotherapist or a consultant in paediatric orthopaedics. This especially the case if the reported pain is severe and/or long lasting.
To arrange an assessment for your child, call our friendly reception team on (0114) 267 8181. They will be happy to answer any questions and get you booked in with the most appropriate clinician.
