12–17 years · Recovery 12 weeks with progressive strengthening
Adolescent Patellofemoral Pain
Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is pain at the joint between the kneecap and the groove of the thigh bone. Unlike Osgood–Schlatter or SLJ it is not a growth-plate condition: it develops when the hip, thigh and foot muscles cannot manage the forces of running, squatting and landing, so pressure through the joint rises and the surrounding tissue becomes sensitised.
Common symptoms
- Aching pain around or behind the kneecap
- Pain with squatting, stairs and downhill running
- Discomfort after long periods of sitting
- Occasional grinding, clicking or a feeling of giving way
What causes it
- Weak quadriceps, glutes and hip control
- Rapid increases in running, jumping or dance volume
- Tight quads, hamstrings and calves
- Worn or unsupportive footwear
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More on Adolescent Patellofemoral Pain
Evidence-informed articles for parents and coaches on this condition, growth-related injury and youth athletic development.
Why Do Growth-Related Injuries Happen?
Growth-related injuries are not bad luck. They are the predictable result of demand outrunning capacity at a specific point in development.
ReadHow Growth Spurts Affect Strength, Speed and Sports Performance
A growth spurt temporarily scrambles coordination and can flatten performance for months - then hands back a bigger, more powerful athlete if training is handled well.
ReadCan You Prevent Growth-Related Injuries in Young Athletes?
You cannot prevent growth. You can meaningfully change the odds, and the things that work are simpler and cheaper than most parents expect.
ReadAdolescent Knee Pain: Red Flags That Need Assessment
Most adolescent knee pain is load-related and self-limiting. A short list of features should prompt clinical assessment instead.
ReadKnee Pain in Children: The Common Causes and What to Do Next
Where the knee hurts tells you most of what you need to know. This is the parent's map of the four or five things that account for the vast majority of knee pain in young athletes.
ReadWhy Do Growing Children Get Knee and Heel Pain?
Knee and heel pain cluster in growing athletes for a specific, well-understood reason - and once you understand it, the management makes sense.
ReadOther programmes