Osgood-Schlatter Disease: Overuse Injuries in Teens
Overuse injuries occur when too much stress is placed on a joint or other tissue, often by “overdoing” an activity or doing the same activity repeatedly. One somewhat common overuse injury among teens is Osgood-Schlatter disease (also called Schlatter’s disease or osteochondrosis of the tibial tubercle).
This condition is defined by inflammation at the top of the shinbone (tibia) where the patellar tendon attaches to a bony prominence. This is more likely to occur during rapid growth periods and is usually seen in athletic teenagers and children between the ages of 10 and 15, especially those who play football, basketball, or soccer, and those who are involved with gymnastics and dance. It usually flares during periods of rapid growth and then goes away at the end of the child’s growth spurt. Osgood-Schlatter disease involves both legs about 25% of the time and is rarely a chronic, lifelong condition.
Signs and symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease include pain and tenderness in front of the knee and mild swelling or a bump below the kneecap at the top of the shin. This disease usually affects only one knee, though occasionally it affects both knees. Symptoms get worse with exercise or activity, such as jumping, that stretches the tendon and puts traction on the tibial tubercle.
The condition does not require any specific medical treatment as most children outgrow the problem in 1 or 2 years. However, physical therapy can help reduce pain when symptoms occur. Rest, decreased activity, and other measures like sports performance training to avoid overuse activity may reduce pain until the bone and muscles mature.