Knee Injuries in Children and Adolescents Skip to main content

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Knee Injuries in Children and Adolescents

Knee Injuries in Children and Adolescents - El Paso Chiropractor


During the development of kids and teens as they grow, the tissues of the body, such as the bones, muscles, tendons and all other structures, starting growing abruptly. During these years, it’s also not uncommon for children and adolescents active lives and participate in athletic activities or sports but, as the body grows, the changing tissues can sometimes develop growth-related conditions or have a higher risk of injury.

Osgood-Schlatter disease, abbreviated as OSD, is a common condition characterized by knee pain in children and growing adolescents. It can be identified as an inflammation on the region below the knee, at the location where the patellar tendon from the kneecap attaches to the tibia, or shinbone. The disease commonly occurs during growth spurts since the structures of the body begin changing rapidly. Also, since physical activity puts additional stress on the bones and muscles, kids and teens who participate in athletic activities or sports, such as running or jumping sports, become more prone to developing Osgood-Schlatter disease. However, less active youth may also suffer from this condition.

Frequently occurring in children between the ages of nine and fifteen, the symptoms for Osgood-Schlatter disease include: knee pain and tenderness while performing physical activities, inflammation and swelling at the region of the knee, and tight muscles at the front or back of the thigh. Occasionally, the symptoms of the condition may occur in both knees, although these can be worse on one knee than the other.

Sinding Larsen Johansson syndrome, abbreviated as SLJ, is another condition resulting in knee pain in children and growing adolescents. This condition also occurs at the bottom of the patella or kneecap. Sinding Larsen Johansson syndrome is caused by a repetitive and constant tugging on the cartilage of the growth plates housed within a child’s body where these are weaker due to the young age, resulting in microscopic cracks on the cartilage. This condition can also be caused by one direct blow, fall, or sudden jump. Much like Osgood-Schlatter disease, this condition causes irritation, inflammation, swelling, and pain around the knee.

Sinding Larsen Johansson syndrome commonly occurs in children between the ages of seven and thirteen, slightly younger than those with OSD.


By Dr. Alex Jimenez

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The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to contact us. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN* email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com phone: 915-850-0900 Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*