Osgood Schlatters is a very common disease that affects the knee. In this disease, the patient suffers from pain and swelling. Osgood Schlatters affects only the upper portion of the shinbone. The people who are into sports are the ones who suffer from this disease very often. It is very common in the teenagers below the age group of seventeen years. The teenagers who play many sports involving kicking or jumping are the ones who suffer from this disease the most. This does not mean that they need to avoid playing sports that they play. They just need to reduce the rigorous exercises that they were earlier doing. They need to shift their focus on increasing the strength of their knee by using certain exercises, but under the supervision of a physiotherapist. There are chances that the pain might reduce a little or there are even chances of the pain to increase. If the pain increases, then it is better to avoid doing exercises until the pain reduces. Then you can again gradually start doing your exercises.
Causes of Osgood-Schlatters Disease
The overuse of the quadriceps muscles is responsible for causing this disease. This muscle is responsible for the knee to straighten up. These muscles help in pulling the kneecap. The kneecap in turn pulls a ligament known as patellar. The overuse of the quadriceps muscle causes strain on the patella ligament. Redness and soreness also appear around the area of the ligament. There is no other reason than this except the overuse of the quadriceps muscle.
Symptoms
The main symptom of the Osgood Schlatters disease is the pain below the kneecap. The pain increases during and after any sort of physical activity, which gets better after taking a rest. The pain lasts for a few months in some cases whereas in some cases it can last until one grows completely. A bony bump can also occur just under the kneecap. This bump if occurs it remains permanent, but its pain fades away slowly. The symptoms of Osgood Schlatters disease usually occur on one side while rarely in some cases it occurs in both the legs. These are the symptoms of the Osgood Schlatters Disease.
In a summarized manner, the following are the symptoms of the disease
- Pain, swelling and tenderness below the knee
- Numbness or Tingling of the knee
- Relief from the pain with rest
- Swelling of the bump on the front of the leg just below the kneecap
- Tight hamstrings muscles
Treatment of Osgood-Schlatters Disease
Understanding of the disease is very important. The pain in this disease is not permanent. This disease is not detrimental to health. If the pain continues and is very difficult to bear, then one can try to have painkillers as it helps in reducing the pain largely.
Osgood Schlatters disease is not a fatal disease. This pain is not permanent and fades in a few months and in some extreme cases in a year. If an individual is into sports, then he/she must try to make some changes in is/her training. There is no need to stop playing any sport, but they should avoid the rigorous training for the sport. If the exercise includes jumping or running, then those suffering from this disease should avoid those exerting exercises. If jumping and running is required, then the patient should do it in a slow manner. One should not stress them out if they are not able to do an exercise. This injury needs rest so that it can heal properly. Analgesics and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications also help in reducing the pain. A gentle massage helps in increasing the blood flow. One should also use a strap across the patellar tendon while being involved in the high impact activities.
In summary, these are the following things that one should do to increase the chance of healing at a rapid rate.
- Use of an ice pack on the kneecap can avoid the inflammation and pain caused after doing an activity.
- One can even try wearing kneepads during any physical activity.
- You can even consult a physiotherapist who can advise you on strengthening of the knee.
Conclusion
The Osgood Schlatters is a disease that affects teenagers because they are involved in physical activity that includes running or jumping. The pain lasts for only a few months in some cases to a maximum time until an individual grows completely. There might be a few cases where a small operation might be required if the pain is persistent. The operation involves removing the unhealed flakes off the bone or fixing them to the tibia. This disease is not something that one should worry about it at all. This disease is a part of the growth stage of both the boys and girls. It is just a part of the normal growth process and nothing more than that. The pain that one experiences in this disease fades away gradually. The symptoms of this disease also include pain in the kneecap and a bump forming near the kneecap, which does not cause any issue in the future. One can even use certain stretching exercises. Stretching of the quad muscles may help to ease the tension in these muscles. You should not exert yourself and must do simple stretches first and then move to increase stretching. All these methods can help you in easy walking your way through this disease.
Briefly, Osgood Schlatters is a very common disease found amongst the teenagers. This disease affects the patients until an individual grows completely. It also is a part of the growth process. There are certain methods that we have discussed in the treatment that an individual can use to reduce the pain and to increase the chances of a speedy recovery as well. This disease is not fatal and there is no need to be scared about it at all. If the pain is a lot, then one can easily take the rest and it will just go away.