OSGOOD-SCHLATTER DISEASE

• An inflammation of the area just below the knee
• Usually affects adolescents experiencing growth spurts during puberty
• Usually resolves on its own, once the child’s bones stop growing

Symptoms

• Knee or leg pain
• Swelling, tenderness, or increased warmth under the knee
• Pain that gets worse with exercise or high-impact activities
• Limping after physical activity

Causes

• Thigh muscles (quadriceps) pull on the tendon during activities
• This repeated stress can cause the tendon to pull away from the shinbone
• Caused by small injuries to the knee area from overuse

Risk Factors

• Develops in boys between ages 13 and 14
• Develops in girls between ages 11 and 12
• Most commonly occurs in children who participate in sports like:
• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Soccer
• Long-distance running
• Gymnastics
• Figure skating
• Diagnostic Tests
• Physical examination
• Bone X-ray to rule out other causes
• Checking the child’s knee for:
• Swelling
• Redness
• Pain

Treatment

• Over-the-counter pain relievers
• Physical therapy
• Resting the knee and decreasing activity
• Putting ice over the painful area 2 to 4 times a day
• Surgery may be needed in rare cases
• Wrapping the knee or wearing a knee brace
• Stretching
• Medications
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others)
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others)
• Naproxen (Aleve)
• Lifestyle Management
• Rest the joint
• Ice the affected area
• Stretch leg muscles
• Protect the knee
• Try a patellar tendon strap
• Cross-train