What is knee pain?

Knee pain describes pain and/or discomfort felt at the knee joint.

Knee pain in children is common, and typically the pain is short lived. If your child experiences knee pain that lasts for more than a week then this needs to be assessed in order to establish the cause, prevent further damage, and reduce painful symptoms.

Podiatry is an area of medicine devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of pathologies relating to the foot and lower limb. The podiatrists at Manchester Podiatry will diagnose the cause of your child's knee pain and formulate an appropriate treatment plan, the aim of which is to relieve any painful symptoms and improve the function of the knee.

What causes knee pain in children?

Knee pain in children has a number of different causes, it is therefore important that your child is correctly diagnosed by a podiatrist so that an appropriate treatment plan can begin. The following list includes the most common causes of knee pain in children:

Osgood Schlatters Disease

Osgood Schlatters affects children and teenagers, it is a condition associated with overuse and/or sudden growth or a 'growth spurt'. Osgood Shlatters presents as pain and swelling at a site known as the tibial tuberosity, this is a bony lump just below the knee at the top of the shin bone. Osgood Shlatters disease can affect either one, or both knees.

Parapatellar Knee Pain Syndrome

Parapatellar knee pain syndrome produces pain around the knee cap (patellar) and affects both knees. Parapatellar knee pain syndrome can result in damage to the cartilage at the back of the patellar, which is exacerbated by activites that bend the knee.

Osteochondritis Dissecans

Osteochondritis dissecans produces pain, inflammation and licking of the knee joint. Osteochondritis dissecans occurs due to a piece of cartilage becoming separated in the knee joint, which irritates the knee and leads to painful symptoms

Patellar Dislocation

The patella is otherwise known as the knee cap and can sometimes become dislocated, leading to impaired movement, pain and swelling. Other causes of childhood knee pain include:

• Cartilage and ligament injuries
• Fracture
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

What would podiatry for knee pain in children involve?

Following an initial assessment the podiatrists here at Manchester Podiatry will examine your child's knee, leg and foot in order to determine if poor biomechanics are responsible for the knee pain. Once a cause has been established a suitable treatment plan will be devised and discussed. Treatment for knee pain in children is very much dependent upon the cause, but may involve:

• Orthoses
• Strapping
• Stretching exercises
• Strengthening exercises
• Wedges
• Physiotherapy

If physiotherapy is deemed to be a suitable treatment then this can be arranged with one of our paediatric physiotherapists here at the clinic).

What should I do if my child has knee pain?

Our podiatrists at Manchester podiatry are skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of knee pathologies, they will diagnose the cause of your child's knee pain based on the signs and symptoms, a thorough history, and an examination of the knee. Treatment options for your child's knee pain will then be discussed.

If your child has knee pain it is important that the cause is established so that an appropriate treatment plan can take place, one that will aim to improve any painful symptoms as well as improve the function of the knee joint.