Musculoskeletal Problems in Chronic Conditions
Many chronic conditions in children can present with musculoskeletal symptoms, including joint, muscle or bone pain. These may arise from genetic conditions, metabolic disease, or structural orthopaedic problems.
Examples include:
- Genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome and Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- Metabolic disorders, including mucopolysaccharidoses and osteomalacia
- Orthopaedic bone pathology, for example hip, knee or back conditions, and fractures
Hypermobility is common in childhood and is often part of normal development. In some children it may be more marked and associated with pain, fatigue or functional symptoms.
Some children experience chronic idiopathic pain, where significant pathology has been excluded. This may include growing pains or chronic pain syndromes, and should be assessed and managed in a biopsychosocial context.
