Osgood-Schlatter disease is a painful condition that affects the knee of children. It is a common cause of knee pain in children and young athletes.
It is a painful lump that forms below the kneecap in children who are still growing. It occurs in children between the ages of 10 and 15 who participate in sports that involves jumping and running.
It occurs due to a period of rapid growth, combined with a high level of sporting activity. The large thigh muscles (quadriceps) is attached to the top of the shin bone (tibia) via the kneecap (patella). In growing children, the bone is soft and the pull of the quadriceps can cause inflammation, pain and swelling.
Symptoms
Some symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease include:
- Knee pain that gets worse when running, jumping and climbing stairs. However, it improves at rest. The severity of the pain can vary from person to person
- Swelling, pain and tenderness at the bony prominence which is on the top part of your shinbone
- A feeling that your leg muscles (especially quadriceps) are tight
- A bony lump as a result of long-standing Osgood Schlatter disease
This condition usually occurs in just one knee, but sometimes it can be found in both knees. Osgood Schlatter disease can last weeks to months and may recur until your child has completely stopped growing.
Causes
This is a condition in which there is inflammation of the tendon which attaches to the shinbone. This occurs due to repetitive stress or tension on this part of the tibia which is also growing while the child is growing.
Activities that involve a lot of running, jumping and bending (eg soccer, basketball, volleyball) can cause this repetitive stress as your child’s thigh muscles are pulling on the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone.
This stress can even cause a bony lump at that spot as the body is trying to close the gap.
Risk Factors
The main risk factors are age, gender and sporting activities.
- Age-It occurs during a child’s growth spurt. As girls experience puberty earlier they typically get this disease at ages 11-12 while boys get it at ages 13-14
- Gender-It is more common in boys but as girls are starting to do more sport the numbers are starting to even out
- Sports-It mainly occurs in sports which involve a lot of jumping and running. Some examples are basketball, football, soccer and gymnastics.
Investigations
X-rays may be ordered to have a better look at the bones of the knee and to look at the part of the leg where the tendon is attached to the upper part of the tibia.
Complications
There aren’t usually complications from Osgood-Schlatter disease. Some rare complications include chronic pain or a bony lump. This lump may never go away but it usually doesn’t impact on the child’s life.
Treatment
Osgood-Schlatter disease typically doesn’t require treatment as it usually gets better after your child’s bones stop growing. If your child’s symptoms are unbearable, your doctor may recommend mild pain relievers and physiotherapy.
Medications
Simple pain relievers like as paracetamol can help relieve the pain.
Allied Health
You can go to a physiotherapist to teach your child exercises to stretch their leg muscles, which can help decrease the tension on the spot where the kneecap’s tendon attaches to the shinbone. Strengthening these muscles can help make the knee more stable.
At home management
It may help your child to follow these tips:
- Rest: Try and avoid activities which involve as kneeling, jumping and running and this can make the condition worse.
- Ice: This can help reduce the pain and swelling.
- Stretching: Stretching the leg muscles, is important.
- Adequate sporting protection: When your child is doing sports, have your child wear a pad over the affected knee at the point where the knee may become irritated.
- Strap/knee brace: A patellar tendon strap fits around the leg just below the kneecap. It can help to “tack down” the kneecap’s tendon during activities and distribute some of the force away from the shinbone.
- Alternative sports: Instead of doing sports which can make the condition worse. do sport which place less stress on the knees like cycling or swimming. After you have no more pain you can go back to your regular sports.
Seeking Advice
Your Family Doctor (GP)
Your Family Doctor will be able to diagnose and help treat your problem. He or she will be able to
- tell you about your problem
- advise you of the best treatment methods
- prescribe you medications
- and if necessary, refer you to Specialists (Consultants) for further treatment
You may initially consult your family doctor (GP) about your child’s knee pain. He or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in knee injuries or sports medicine.
Bring along information about yourself
It can be a great help for your doctor if you bring along the following information about yourself
- A list of your medications, including the name and dosage.
- Information about your medical problems and past treatment
- Previous investigation results, such as xrays and blood tests.
Prepare a list of questions for your doctor
You may want to write a list that includes:
- Detailed descriptions of your child’s symptoms
- Information about medical problems your child has had in the past
- Information about medical problems common in your family
- All the medications and dietary supplements your child takes
- Questions you want to ask the doctor
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor will conduct a physical examination of your child’s knee, looking for tenderness, swelling, pain and redness. He or she will also want to check the range of motion in your child’s knee and hip.
Prevention
This disorder is usually caused by small injuries that are usually unnoticed, so prevention may not be possible. Regular stretching, both before and after exercise, can help prevent injury.
F.A.Q. | Frequently Asked Questions
Osgood-Schlatter disease is common in teenage males, but can it also occur in older people?
No, as it is a disease of skeletal immaturity.
How long will it take for the pain to go away?
It can be very variable but usually it is between 8 to 24 months to go completely.
Should I stop doing all sports?
You do not NEED to stop all sports, but this this will make recovery slower.