Common knee strain problems
Especially in young people who play sports and are growing, typical pain conditions occur:
Osgood–Schlatter disease: Symptoms: Pain and swelling at the top of the shinbone, just below the kneecap.
Reason: Strain on the tendon attachment site of the thigh muscle during a growth spurt (typically in 12–15 year olds).
Care: Reducing sports stress and avoiding painful movements (such as jumping). The condition will improve on its own by the end of growth at the latest.
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD): Symptoms: Aching pain in the knee, especially when bending, sometimes swelling.
Reason: Change in the cartilage-bone area
Care: Often, just monitoring and rest are enough.
Anterior knee pain (Chondromalacia patellae-type symptom): Symptoms: Vague pain in the front of the knee when running or sitting for a long time (e.g. in the car or at the movies).
Care: The pain is often transient and eases over time.
In young children under school age, the causes are different and it is sometimes difficult to determine where on the limb the pain is located. The cause may be an injury, synovitis, etc.
When should you see a doctor?
Most temporary knee pain will improve within a few days with rest. Clear symptoms that require investigation include:
The knee swells, becomes hot, or becomes red
Pain is accompanied by fever: This requires immediate (emergency) evaluation due to possible bacterial infection.
Limping or severe pain without a clear reason
Morning stiffness: The joint feels stiff and tender in the morning (may indicate an inflammatory disease/rheumatism).
The child is unable to put weight on the leg.