PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC KNEE PAIN IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN NORTHERN FINLAND

A questionnaire was sent to 967 schoolchildren, in two age groups, in northern Finland in order to investigate the prevalence of chronic kne e pain. A response rate of 88.5% was achieved. Adolescents (aged 14-15 years) had significantly more knee pain (p < 0.0001) than children (a ged 9-10 years). The total prevalence of chronic knee pain at the time of the evaluation was 18.5% among adolescents and 3.9% among children . There was no significant difference in the prevalence of chronic kne e pain between boys and girls in these age groups. Overweight was not a predisposing factor in chronic knee pain.