Osgood-Schlatter disease is a condition characterized by swelling of the bump (anterior tibial tubercle) present on the upper part of the tibia, below the knee. It is the most common cause of knee pain in young athletes. Osgood-Schlatter disease affects children participating in sports activities such as football, gymnastics, basketball, and sprinting. Any sporting activity creates stress over the growth plate, at the top of tibia. A growth plate is a layer of cartilage present at the end of bone which is responsible for bone growth. It affects girls in the age group of 10 to 11 years and boys in 13 to 14 years age group and generally resolves with age.
Osgood Schlatter disease is an overuse injury of the knee where one or both the knees can be affected. It is caused due to repeated use of a body part, before it has completed its growth.
Quadriceps is the large and strong muscles of the leg which is required for running, jumping, and climbing stairs. It is attached to the patellar tendon, in the knee. During the growth spurt, the overuse of quadriceps muscle can lead to inflammation of the muscle resulting in pain and swelling.
The most commonly symptoms of Osgood Schlatter disease include painful swelling in the lower leg, which aggravates on jumping, running, climbing stairs. Tenderness below the knee cap and stiffness of surrounding the knee muscles (quadriceps and hamstring) can also be seen.
Complications
The possible complications of Osgood Schlatter disease include:
In very rare cases, a painful growth may develop below the knee which can be removed surgically.
Diagnosis of this condition comprises of a detailed medical history and a physical examination. An X-ray of the knee is taken to check for any damage of the tibia tubercle and also rule out other causes of pain. Other diagnostic tests such as CT, MRI, and ultrasonography can also be conducted in a few patients.
The treatment of a child with Osgood Schlatter disease includes:
The symptoms usually resolve by the age of 15 to 16 years.
Osgood Schlatter’s Disease is unavoidable during sports activities. However, your doctor may advise regular stretching or strengthening exercises to your child. These exercises will strengthen the quadriceps muscles.
Following sports safety guidelines can minimize the impact of Osgood Schlatter’s Disease:
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