Learn About Osgood Schlatter Disease

No matter what their age, there is not a single person in the world who is immune to knee pain. It can be from any number of injuries or from certain conditions, including arthritis, osteo and rheumatoid. When younger children experience knee pain, it is often due to a condition known as Osgood Schlatter Disease. This is a condition that causes swelling, tenderness and pain, usually just over the shin bone or tibia, a little bit below the knee. Osgood Schlatter Disease can often be found in children who are athletic, and it tends to affects boys more than girls, although it is common in both males and females.

What is Osgood Schlatter Disease?

Osgood Schlatter Disease, which is also known as tibial tubercle apophyseal traction injury, is basically when the growth plate ruptures, at the tibial tuberosity. It is most commonly seen in active children, particularly boys, and it can occur either with or without an injury. Osgood Schlatter Disease causes stress to the patellar tendon, and it is usually during growth spurts that the condition arises. The condition can lead to bone growth in the tuberosity, and a lump that is tender to the touch can often be seen. Scientists aren't completely sure what causes Osgood Schlatter Disease, but some think that it is from the pulling of the quadriceps muscles in the thighs, as they pull on the tendons, which can sometimes pull away. In order to properly diagnose Osgood Schlatter Disease, a doctor will listen to the symptoms, and probably take an x-ray to find out for sure if this is actually the problem and not something else.

How to Treat Osgood Schlatter Disease

This is one of the few conditions that affects the knees that actually goes away on its own most of the time, which is great. Often, if there are exercises and other boring therapies involved, young people will slack off and not do the proper therapy, which can cause things to heal improperly. This is not usually a worry with Osgood Schlatter Disease. This is a condition that is associated with growth, so once a child is finished growing, they should have no more problems with it. There are occasions where it is recommended that the child not play as many sports until the knee or knees have healed, and avoid bending deeply at the knees.

Another method of treatment for Osgood Schlatter Disease is the RICE treatment method: Rest, Ice, Compression and Extension.

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  Rest: The child should refrain from any activity that is likely to cause pain and irritate the condition further, sometimes for as long as three or four months.


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  Ice: Ice should be applied for 20 minutes at a time, three to four times daily.


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  Compression: This can be done simply with an elastic bandage or with a comfortable neoprene sleeve.


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  Elevation: It is important that the leg be elevated to alleviate any swelling.

Osgood Schlatter Disease is not usually a permanent condition, and it is easily treated without surgery. If your child is experiencing knee pain and in need of relief, have your physician check to see if this is the cause, so you can go about treating it and getting your kid back out on the playing field.