by Valerie Johnson

Created on: April 10, 2008

Osgood-Schlatter disease is an overuse injury to the tibial tuberosity which is the bony prominence of the upper shinbone (tibia) just below the kneecap (patella). Another name for Osgood-Schlatter disease is tibial tuberosity apophysitis. The disease was named in 1903 after two separate physicians, Dr. Robert Osgood and Dr. Carl Schlatter, independently described it.

Osgood-Schlatter disease occurs when the large frontal muscles of the thigh known as the quadriceps contract and begin to pull the patellar tendons away from the tibia. In severe cases, the tendon may stretch to a point where it actually detaches from the tibia possibly taking a fragment of bone with it.

It is seen most often when children and pre-adolescent youth repeatedly use these muscles and tendons while experiencing growth spurts. There is a higher incidence in boys from ages 10-15 but there is an increasing number of girls aged 8-13 being diagnosed with it.

Symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease include:

- Swelling, pain and tenderness over the bony prominence of the upper shinbone just below the kneecap.

- Increased pain with exercise and activity which improves with rest.

- Tightening of the quadriceps.

Osgood-Schlatter disease typically only affects one knee but can be present in both. For the majority of those diagnosed with it, the symptoms will disappear after they quit growing. It is not uncommon for adults who suffered from Osgood-Schlatter disease as children to have occasional pain when kneeling.

Basic treatment can easily be remembered using the word RICE:

- Rest the affected knee.
- Ice the affected knee for 20 minutes at a time, 3 times a day.
- Compress the affected knee by wrapping an elastic bandage around it.
- Elevate the affected knee.

Other treatments include pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen help to decrease pain and inflammation. A knee brace and crutches may be necessary if the pain is severe and not responding to the above treatment. In rare cases surgery maybe required if fragmented ends of the bone have not healed by the time the child stops growing.

Activity can be continued depending on the child's pain level. To decrease further injury and pain during activity use the following suggestions:

- Wear a patella tendon strap when participating in activities.
- Stretch the quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles before activity.
- Wearing shock-absorbing insoles can decrease the stress on the knees.
- Applying ice after an activity to reduce swelling and inflammation.

Osgood-Schlatter disease is not life-threatening and does not cause permanent damage. Assure your child the disease usually goes away as they grow older. It is usually unnecessary to withdraw from activity if symptoms develop. Taking simple measures to properly warm up the muscles in the legs, wearing a brace to keep the tendons stabilized and using the RICE method of treatment can help keep the symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease from becoming more severe.

Learn more about this author, Valerie Johnson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.