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What to Do About Knee Pain in Children

Does your child suffer from knee or leg pain? The questions below can help you decide when a doctor’s evaluation is necessary.

by Jennifer Beck, MD
Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine for Children and Adults
Boulder Medical Center

Kids are always running around, running into things, and getting injured. Sometimes it is hard to know what to shake off or put a band aide on versus taking seriously and bringing them in for an evaluation. Though not a comprehensive list, here are some age-based questions to ask if your child comes to you with knee or leg pain.

Ages 0 to 5 Years

Persistent knee pain in this age range is rare. More common are the bumps and bruises that happen with everyday kid life. Children are innately protective of their bodies at this age and will stop using their legs if there’s something wrong. If your child has knee pain after a low-energy fall (i.e., from standing height) or higher energy fall (trampoline, biking, fall from heights), a few questions can help determine if its something serious:

  • Is your child willing to put any weight on the injured leg or knee? A little distraction or motivation (toys/snacks/games) goes a long way with this.
  • Does the area swell rapidly over the next few hours?
  • Is there one spot that hurts much more than others when you gently press on it?
  • Does your child require pain medication consistently? Or is their pain unrelieved by over-the-counter anti-inflammatories (Motrin, ibuprofen, Advil, etc)?
  • Do they refuse to bend, straighten, or lift their leg after basic treatment? (rest, ice, anti-inflammatories)

Ages 5- to 10 Years

Persistent knee pain in this age range is more common. Often parents ask, “Are these just growing pains?” Growing pains are more common in this age range, typically occurring at night when trying to sleep, and are relieved by parental massage. Growing pains usually do not affect the daily life or activities of kids. However, other musculoskeletal conditions can develop in this age range. Here are some helpful questions to ask your child in addition to the ones above:

  • Do they have difficulty keeping up with other peers their age?
  • Do they have a limp while walking or running that they may or may not notice, but you or other parents notice?
  • Where is their pain? Knee? Thigh? Hip/groin? Does it limit the motion of their leg?
  • Do any other joints hurt at the same time? Are rashes associated with their pain?

Ages 10+ Years

Activity or sports-related knee pain is most common in this age range. Often kids play multiple sports or on numerous teams requiring a lot of physical energy. Chronic or overuse injuries are prevalent, but more acute or sudden onset musculoskeletal injuries can occur with higher-risk sports (e.g., football, soccer, gymnastics) or higher time requirement sports (i.e., baseball, dance, running). Some questions to ask:

  • Did your child have to sit down, pull out of the activity, or use crutches/brace because of the pain or injury?
  • Did or does your child’s kneed make a popping sound, swell, or did something look out of place when the injury happened?
  • Does the pain occur only with activities and resolve as soon as your child rests?
  • Does your child change their walking or running to accommodate for the pain?

While some of these questions can cross over between ages, any positive response should cause you to seek an evaluation for your child’s knee or leg pain with a pediatric orthopedist, pediatrician, or local urgent care. Often, radiographs will be needed to help diagnose your child’s condition. Boulder Medical Center has quick access to all three care options if there are positive responses to any of these questions.

Jennifer Beck, MD – Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine for Children and Adults

About Jennifer Beck, MD, FAAOS, SM-CAQ

Dr. Jennifer Beck is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine for children and adults. Her specialty areas include:

    • ACL Tears
    • Patella Instability
    • Knee Surgery
    • Meniscus/Discoid Meniscus Arthroscopic Surgery
    • Arthroscopic Surgery
    • Fracture Management
    • Sports Injuries
    • Outpatient Surgical Procedures

Before opening her practice at Boulder Medical Center, Dr. Beck was associate director at The Luskin Center for Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Institute for Children in Los Angeles, and Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Dr. Beck practices in Boulder and Louisville, Colorado.

Resources

Orthopedics, Pediatric Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Sports Medicine
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