Osgood-Schlatter disease is inflammation of the bone and surrounding soft tissue just below the knee. It occurs at the point where the shinbone attaches to the tendon of the kneecap.
Osgood-Schlatter disease is caused by repeated tension or stress on the upper part of the shinbone during its growth spurts.
Factors that may increase your risk of getting this condition include:
Sex: males are at greater risk than females
Age: 10 to 18 years old
Rapid growth spurts
Activities that stress the patellar tendon, such as jogging, jumping, and sudden turning
Being overweight
Osgood-Schatter disease may cause:
Pain, swelling, and/or tenderness just below the knee that usually worsens during physical activity
A swollen, painful bump just below the knee
The doctor will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and physical activity. An examination of your knee will be done. Diagnosis is based on the symptoms. In some cases, you may have an x-ray or an ultrasound of the knee.
Osgood-Schlatter disease may go away when the bones and tendons have finished growing. The bump may be permanent.
Physical therapy treatment may include:
The use of modalities such as ice, heat, and ultrasound to help reduce swelling and manage pain
Use of hands-on treatment to increase flexibility and strengthen the affected muscles
Custom orthotics or education on proper footwear
To prevent the occurrence or recurrence of Osgood-Schlatter disease:
Encourage overweight children to lose weight.
Encourage children to exercise regularly but moderately, and to avoid weight-bearing activities that put excessive stress on the patellar tendon. These include jogging, jumping, and sudden turning.
Ask your child's doctor for stretching and strengthening exercises for the shinbone/patellar tendon.
This content was created using EBSCO's Health Library
RESOURCES:
FamilyDoctor.org - American Academy of Family Physicians
http://familydoctor.org
OrthoInfo.org - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://orthoinfo.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Orthopaedic Association
http://www.coa-aco.org
Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
http://www.canorth.org
REFERENCES:
Atanda A, Shah S, O'Brien K. Osteochondrosis: common causes of pain in growing bones. Am Fam Physician. 2011 Feb 1;83(3):285-91.
Aronen JG and Garrick JG. Sports-induced inflammation in the lower extremities. Hosp Pract. 1999;34:51.
Ducher G, Cook J, Lammers G, Coombs P, Ptazsnik R, Black J, Bass SL. The ultrasound appearance of the patellar tendon attachment to the tibia in young athletes is conditional on gender and pubertal stage. J Sci Med Sport. 2010;13(1):20-23.
Osgood-Schlatter disease. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed Updated January 24, 2012. Accessed June 24, 2013.
Overuse injuries in children. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00613 Updated December 2012. Accessed June 24, 2013.
Pihlajamäki HK, Visuri TI. Long-term outcome after surgical treatment of unresolved Osgood-Schlatter disease in young men: surgical technique. J Bone Joint Surg A . 2010;92: Suppl 1 Pt 2:258-264.
This content was created using EBSCO’s Health Library
