Cymraeg
Knee Pain is a common muscle, joint and bone symptom
Knee Pain
Where is it felt?
Knee Pain is pain that can be felt at the front, back, inner or outer part of your child’s knee. Common areas of knee pain in children and young people are around or on the kneecap and at the top of the shin bone.
How could it affect me/my child?
- Pain can often be felt with simple day to day activities. Some of these activities include walking, standing, stairs, squatting, play and exercise
- Knee pain can affect our ability to carry out daily activities, including play, school and hobbies
- It might also affect how a child a child moves and they may not want to put their foot to the floor or bend or straighten their knee
Why does it happen?
Knee Pain can start because of an injury (for example a trip or twist incident), from doing more than you normally do (for example increased activity or exercise), during growth and development, or it can also start for no obvious reason.
Knee pain is more common in older children and teenagers than young children and can often be caused by the growth that happens at this age and the activities they take part in. Areas of the bone called growth plates can be affected by the use of the muscles attached to them. Sometimes when children grow, they use their muscles in a different way which means that the muscles are not all as strong or as long as they need to be. This can affect how the knee joint and kneecap move and can cause pain or discomfort.
Is it serious?
Knee pain in children and young people is not often serious and will improve with time, a change in activity type of levels and exercises.
However your child will need to see their GP if:
- They have a hot, significantly swollen and painful knee or a new and unusual lump on their knee
- If they are feeling unwell, sick or have a fever with knee pain
- They have pain in the night
- Night sweats
- Stiffness and difficulty moving the knee especially in the morning
- The pain gets worse or does improve in a short period of time
- Following a knee injury if the knee ‘gives way’ or feels unstable or if it is getting stuck or ‘catching’
If your child has had a recent knee injury and is unable to weight bear they need to be assessed in a minor injuries department.
Will it get better?
The answer for most people including children and young people is yes as most symptoms will ease in the first 2 to 6 weeks for a new onset of knee pain or a flare-up of longstanding knee pain. It can take some people longer to get back to their normal and some describe ongoing problems.
Taking steps to look after your child’s physical and mental health can give the best opportunity of a successful recovery.
Most knee injuries and pain in children and young people will get better in a short space of time, sometimes if the pain is growth related it can come and go until the bone stops growing.
What can I do to help myself/my child?
Some of the most important things you can do to help your knee pain are related to your lifestyle choices and general health. We have provided some useful links to help guide you through.
Changing the type and amount of exercise and activities your child is doing can help. High impact activities such as running and jumping in high amounts can increase knee pain.
The information in Step Two and Step Three explains the factors that can affect the severity and impact of muscle joint and bone symptoms.
Step Two explains the factors that may be contributing to your situation.
Step Three explains self-management advice on what you can do to help yourself.
Following the 3-step process will help you make the most out of the information on this website.
Learn more about:
What can be done to help me/my child?
An assessment of your problem and treatment may be necessary if the self-management advice in Step 3 does not help. Consider seeking further help.
If you continue to be concerned about the symptoms you are experiencing and are unsure what to do contact your GP practice or ring NHS Wales 111.
