Osgood-Schlatter Disease – Symptoms & Treatment
What is Osgood-Schlatter Disease?
Osgood-Schlatter disease is a condition that happens when a tendon in the knee (the patellar tendon) pulls against the top of the shinbone. This causes pain in the knee and the upper shin.
Tendons are bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. The patellar tendon pulls on an area of the shinbone where new bone is forming, called the growth plate. The pulling causes pain and inflammation (swelling and irritation). A hard bump may also grow right below the knee as the growth plate hardens. People with Osgood-Schlatter disease usually get better with rest, over-the-counter pain medication, and time. Osgood-Schlatter disease is sometimes referred to as growing pains or jumper’s knee.
What are the symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease?
The main symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease are:
- Swelling.
- Tenderness.
- Pain just below the kneecap.
The pain usually develops gradually over time, though it can appear suddenly. The pain may be worse in one knee than in the other, and it often gets worse when you run, jump, or climb.
A hard, painful bump can also appear on the front of the knee below the kneecap. This bump is the new bone that grows in the place where the tendon pulls on the growth plate. Though the pain will go away, the bump may remain even after the child has grown up.
What are the treatments for Osgood-Schlatter disease?
Most of the time, you can treat Osgood-Schlatter disease at home with a combination of rest, ice, and over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Depending on the severity of the symptoms, your child’s doctor may recommend taking a break from the sports and activities that are causing the pain.
Many children find relief with Physiotherapy treatments to help resolve their symptoms with modalities and teaching the children how to stretch their quadriceps (thigh muscles) to release some of the tension on the patellar tendon. Physiotherapist may also recommend using a brace called a patellar tendon strap. This thin strap fits around the knee under the kneecap. It can relieve some stress on the patellar tendon.
CONTACT Monarch Physiotherapy Clinic for more details on treating Osgood-Schlatter Disease.
