Causes of knee pain

Causes of knee pain in children

In case of children knee pain may be a result of certain physical changes in the bones that occur with growth. 

Patellar subluxation: Patellar subluxation is a common cause of knee pain in adolescent girls that occurs due a physical variation in the muscle and joint structure in them.

Tibial apophysitis or Osgood-Schlatter: In case of adolescent boys or girls a condition called tibial apophysitis or Osgood-Schlatter lesion is a frequent cause of knee pain that typically persists for a few months. This condition usually occurs after a growth spurt while another condition known as jumper’s knee is noted in adolescent boys during a growth spurt.

These are usually self-limiting conditions that resolve over a period of time without any specific treatment, while a doctor’s consultation is necessary to rule out other causes.^{1, 2}

Causes of knee pain in adults

Adults suffer from knee pain that may be attributed to overuse, trauma, certain infectious conditions or joint disorders.

Overuse may be noticed in general individuals with repeated overuse of the knees as in walking, running or squatting. Overuse of the knees is more common in case of athletes such as runners or cyclists.

Trauma to the joint ligaments while running, jumping or sudden twisting also results in significant pain in the knees both in adults and children.

Infection: Abrupt appearance of knee pain that is associated with swelling of the knee is a familiar feature of the infection of the knee.

Joint disorders: Elderly individuals tend to suffer from knee pain due to various disorders that are common during the old age. These conditions include osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis and other joint disorders.^{1, 2}      

Next page: Signs and symptoms of knee pain

Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: April 16, 2012