Knee pain is a common complaint among children and adolescents, often leading parents to wonder if it’s a natural part of growing up. While “growing pains” do exist, knee pain in children can stem from various causes, not all related to growth. Understanding the different reasons behind a child’s knee discomfort can help determine if medical attention is needed.
Understanding Growing Pains
Growing pains are common leg pain in children, affecting those between 3 and 12 years. These pains are characterized by an aching or throbbing sensation, often felt in the thighs, calves, or behind the knees. The discomfort usually affects both legs and tends to occur late in the day or at night, sometimes waking a child from sleep.
Episodes of growing pains are intermittent and disappear by morning. Despite their name, growing pains are not directly linked to bone growth. Instead, they relate to muscle overuse or fatigue from active daily activities like running, climbing, and jumping, which can strain the musculoskeletal system.
Other Reasons for Knee Pain
While growing pains are benign, other conditions cause knee pain in children and may require different approaches. Overuse injuries are frequent in active children and adolescents, especially in sports with repetitive movements. Patellofemoral pain syndrome, or “runner’s knee,” causes pain around or behind the kneecap due to imbalances or repetitive stress.
Acute injuries like sprains, strains, or fractures can result from falls, direct impacts, or sudden twists during play or sports. These injuries present with immediate pain, sometimes swelling or bruising, and may affect the child’s ability to bear weight or move the knee normally.
Osgood-Schlatter disease is common in active adolescents (9-14 years), causing pain and swelling just below the kneecap. It occurs due to irritation of the growth plate at the top of the shinbone where the patellar tendon attaches, often worsened by activities involving running and jumping. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of arthritis in children under 16. JIA causes persistent joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, often in larger joints like the knee, and may include morning stiffness or limping.
When to Consult a Doctor
Parents should recognize signs indicating knee pain is not growing pains and warrants medical evaluation. If pain is localized to only one knee, not both, it suggests a different cause. Pain with visible signs like limping, swelling, redness, or tenderness around the knee also indicates a need for medical attention.
Pain that persists into the morning, interferes with daily activities, or is severe enough to prevent a child from standing or putting weight on the knee should be assessed by a healthcare professional. Additional concerning symptoms include pain associated with fever, a rash, unexplained weight loss, or a loss of appetite. If knee pain follows an injury, or if the child is very young (under 3), seeking medical advice is advisable to rule out more serious conditions.