The skeletally immature knee: what's new in overuse injuries

Overuse and growth-related disorders of the knee occur frequently among children and adolescents. The vast majority of these disorders are self-limited and respond well to a therapeutic exercise program that includes restoring or attaining normal lower extremity strength and flexibility and good dynamic lower extremity alignment. Other causes of knee pain, such as training errors and inadequate footgear, may need to be corrected. Bracing may be useful for temporary amelioration of knee pain in order to allow successful performance of the therapeutic exercise program. Surgical intervention is rarely necessary for adolescents with knee pain resulting from overuse.