Osgood-Shlatter Disease Essay

There are different types of knee diseases and Osgood-Schlatters Disease just happens to be one of them. OSD is an inflammation of the patellar ligament at the tibial tuberosity. It is characterized by a painful bump just below the knee and is occurs most often in young adolescents. The disease often occurs the most when a young child is involved with sports, such as soccer, basketball, figure skating, and ballet. While the disease is more common in boys, the gender gap is narrowing as more girls are becoming involved with sports.

What are the symptoms Each person with the disease varies. Some may only have mild pain performing certain activities, like running or jumping. For others, the pain can be unbearable. OSD can usually occur in one

knee, but sometimes it develops in both knees. Discomfort can last from a couple of weeks to months and may recur until your child has stopped growing.
Stress from sports can cause the tendon to pull away from the shinbone a bit, which results in the pain and swelling associated with Osgood-Schlatter disease.

In some cases, a child’s body may try to close the gap with new bone growth, which can result in a bony lump at the spot. During activities that involve a lot of running, jumping and bending – such as soccer, basketball, volleyball and ballet – when a child’s thigh muscles (quadriceps) pull on that tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone.

What are the risk factors The main risk factors for Osgood-Schlatters disease are – age: which occurs during puberty’s growth spurts; sex (gender): disease is more common in boys; and sports: condition happens most often with age in boys around the age of 13 to 14, and girls from the age of 11 to 12.

Are they complications from Osgood-Schlatters Disease? The complications are uncommon. Even after symptoms have resolved, a bony lump may remain on the shinbone in an area of the swelling. This lump may persist to some degree throughout your child’s life, but it doesn’t usually interfere with knee function. Knee pain will occur, swelling or tenderness, sometimes the pain will worsen with exercise or high-impact activities, or limping after physical

activity.
How is Osgood-Schlatters Disease treated? Osgood-Schlatter disease usually resolves on its own once a growth spurt ends. Until then, treatment is focused on relieving symptoms, such as knee pain and swelling. Types of treatments includes – icing the affected area two to four times a day, or after doing physical activity; taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen; resting the knee or reducing physical activity; wrapping the knee or wearing a knee brace; stretching; or physical therapy. Some children may be able to participate in low-impact activities, such as swimming or biking, as they recover. Others may need to stop participating in certain sports for several months so their bodies can heal. Osgood-Schlatter disease usually doesn’t cause any long-term complications. Some children might also need surgery if the bone and tendons in their knee don’t heal correctly.
Should you go see a doctor? More than likely, the attention will be brought to your family’s doctor. The doctor would highly recommend to go see a doctor who specializes in knee injuries or sports medicine. Tests and diagnoses are very important. There are x-rays that can be used to look at the bones of the knee and leg and more closely to examine the area where the kneecap tendon attaches of the shinbone.