Adolescent Knee Pain - (Osgood-Schlatter Disease)
Posted: Thursday, August 13, 2009
by Karen Webb
Webbs Podiatry
Osgood-Schlatter disease is the inflammation of the area just below the knee, where the tendon from the kneecap meets the shinbone. It can affect one or both knees. Osgood-Schlatter's syndrome tends to occur in active young adolescents, often during a growth spurt. At this time tendons grow quickly, but not always at the same rate, this can cause stress and injury to the growth plate at the top of the shinbone during exercise. The disease mainly affects boys, but as girls become more active in sports, they too are being affected.
- Tightness of muscles around the knee.
- Pain, swelling or tenderness below the knee that worsens with exercise.
- Limping after exercise.
- Pain that decreases with rest.
Causes
- Frequent physical exercise during a growth spurt.
- Common activities that may trigger the disease are jumping, running, football, basketball etc.
Self Treatment
Osgood-Schlatter disease usually goes away on its own at the end of the growth spurt; however, symptoms during an attack can be eased by:
- Resting the affected knee / knees.
- Cooling the affected area with ice.
- Elevating the leg / legs.
- Using an elastic knee bandage.
Clinical Treatment
- An x-ray may be taken to determine the cause.
- Orthoses to re-balance the musculo-skeletal system
- Anti-inflammatory medication may be prescribed, to help reduce inflammation and pain.
- An exercise program devised to tone and strengthen can help to avoid further injury.
- Surgery may be used as a last resort.
- Podiatric treatment to reduce inflammation and rehabilitate the affected area.
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