Osgood Schlatter Disease: Why Active Adolescents Should Read This?

Who Suffers Osgood Schlatter Disease? Osgood Schlatter disease usually strikes adolescents who are active during their growth spurts, which is the two year period where they grow most rapidly. Osgood-Schlatter Disease is most common in boys but can affect either gender if the children are active. Tight thigh muscles also predisposes you to Osgood Schlatter disease. (de Lucena GL et al 2011) The most prevalent groups are: Boys: ages 11-15 years – Girls: ages 8-13 years. Activities involving repetitive, strong quadriceps contractions, such as in jumping, running, volleyball, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, dance, netball and ice skating are most at risk. Read full article: http://bit.ly/16rkZ0l What is Osgood Schlatter Disease? Osgood Schlatter Disease is an tibial tuberosity apophysitis,which is the medical name for inflammed bone at the site of the tibial tuberosity growth plate, in children. Osgood Schlatter disease is an inflammation of the bone at the top of the tibia (shin bone), where the tendon from the patella (kneecap) attaches. It is an overuse knee injury rather than a traumatic injury. While Osgood Schlatter disease is a relatively uncommon, it is quite debilitating knee injury that occurs in young active children/adolescents.  What the Symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter Disease? Osgood Schlatter disease presents in growing boys and girls as: Local pain, swelling, and tenderness over the tibial tuberosity at the attachment of the patellar tendon.  Pain is experienced during exercise (e.g., running, jumping) or with direct contact, such as in kneeling. Stairs, squatting and kneeling may be painful. Quadriceps weakness can be present is chronic cases. Bilateral symptoms, occur in 20-30% of cases. The apophysis may be enlarged in later stages, which looks like a lump that is tender in its active phase. What Causes Osgood-Schlatter Disease? Strong repetitive quadriceps contractions are thought to cause a traction force on the tibial tuberosity, disrupting the immature bone. There is a higher incidence in active children during the adolescent growth spurt. As a child grows, bones go through different stages of development: The tibial tuberosity is initially cartilaginous (cartilaginous stage).  It then enters the apophyseal stage when the secondary ossification center (apophysis) appears. The unity of the proximal tibial epiphysis with the tibial apophysis marks the epiphyseal stage. Lastly, when the growth plates fuse, the bony stage has been reached. Children are most susceptible to Osgood-Schlatter disease when their bones are in the (2nd) apophyseal stage.  During this phase the apophysis is unable to withstand high tensile forces. When presented with strong, repetitive muscle contractions, micro-fractures occur at the immature area. The separation results in symptoms typical of Osgood Schlatter disease, as well as irregular bone growth that explains an enlarged tibial tuberosity afterwards. Another reported cause for Osgood Schlatter disease has been the lack of growth of the quadriceps in comparison to the femur. During a growth spurt in a child, the lengthening of the muscle is unable to keep up with the lengthening of the rapidly lengthening femur, resulting in increased tensile force on the tibial tuberosity. Investigations Osgood Schlatter Disease can normally be diagnosed without the need for further investigation. Plain X-rays are commonly taken to rule out other conditions such as a tibial tuberosity fracture, malignancy, or infection. MRIs are not commonly used to confirm the diagnosis. What is the Symptom Progression? While a mild case of Osgood Schlatter Disease can resolve within days, severe cases must be professionally managed to avoid growth plate damage. The pain and swelling symptoms can potentially last for years. Longstanding Osgood-Schlatter Disease can result in an avulsion fracture of the patella tendon, which can severely affect your ability to walk or run. Fortunately, Osgood Schlatter disease is very successfully managed via physiotherapy. Contact PhysioWorks or Book Online Treatment for Osgood-Schlatter Disease Physiotherapy Physiotherapy assessment and treatment is a proven benefit for Osgood Schlatter disease sufferers. About 90% of patients respond well to non-operative physiotherapy treatment, but symptoms may come and go for 12-24 months before complete resolution. (Gholve et al 2007) Knee Protection Immediate restriction of high impact activities such as jumping and running. Use an infrapatella knee strap to dissipate forces away from the site of Osgood Schlatter Disease. An example of a Osgood Schlatter Disease brace can be found at this link: http://bit.ly/186YgaR Kinesiology taping may provide both pain relief and load reduction at the site of pain and injury.  Only on rare occasions severe Osgood Schlatter disease may require crutches. Consult with your physiotherapist for the best advice specific to your knee. Contact PhysioWorks or Book Online Anti-inflammatory Treatment Ice & TENS Machine A combination of ice treatment and a home tens machine will reduce pain and improve the healing rate. This usually hastens the recovery rate of sufferers. Ice is useful at home or after exercise. Functional Training Rest is an important in the management of Osgood Schlatter disease and relief of pain. Whether or not you should continue playing sport is dependent on symptoms. It is best to discuss your exercise workload with your physiotherapist for advice on how to best manage your return sport while respecting your injury. Therapeutic Exercises Stretching, Massage & Foam Rollers One of the common reasons for developing Osgood Schlatter disease is excessively tight quadriceps muscles, ITB, hamstrings, hip flexors and calf muscles. Your physiotherapist will prescribe specific stretches for you if they assess that you are tight in these muscle groups. Massage and foam rollers are beneficial especially in the early phase when stretches create pain at the Osgood Schlatter disease site. Strengthening Your muscle control around the knee will usually need to be addressed to control or maintain your symptoms during the active phase of Osgood Schlatter Disease. Your physiotherapist will commonly prescribe or modify exercises for you. Foot Arch Control & Orthotics Your foot biomechanics or arch control may be inadequate for your intensity of sport. Your physiotherapist can assist both the assessment and corrective exercises for your dynamic foot control. Active Foot Correction Exercises can be beneficial as both a preventative and corrective strategy. More information can be found here: http://bit.ly/1b8CxkF Occasionally, your foot biomechanics may be predisposing you to torsional stresses that can cause abnormal knee forces, which can cause knee injury. In these instances, foot orthotics may need to be prescribed. There are mixed views on how effective these are, since the foot structure is rapidly changing at this age. Ask your physiotherapist or podiatrist for advice. Contact PhysioWorks or Book Online Prognosis for Osgood Schlatter Disease Osgood Schlatter disease is a self-limiting syndrome. Complete recovery can be expected with closure of the tibial growth plate. Discomfort in kneeling may occur in the long-term with patients who have enlarged lumps as a result of the apophysitis. Although symptoms of Osgood Schlatter disease may linger for months, few patients have poor outcomes with conservative treatment, and surgical intervention is seldom necessary. Corticosteroid injections are not recommended due to case reports of subcutaneous atrophy. More Information For a thorough individualised assessment and professionally guided care for your Osgood Schlatter disease please consult with your physiotherapist. Contact PhysioWorks or Book Online Common Treatments for Osgood Schlatter Disease Early Treatment Avoid the HARM Factors What are the Healing Phases for a Soft Tissue Injury? What is Sub-Acute Soft Tissue Injury Treatment? Active Foot Posture Correction Exercises Gait Re-Education Biomechanical Analysis Proprioception & Balance Exercises Agility & Sport-Specific Exercises Medications? Soft Tissue Massage Electrotherapy & Local Modalities Heating Pads Joint Pain Relief Techniques Kinesiology Taping Prehabilitation Strengthening Exercises Stretching Exercises Support Brace Supportive Taping & Strapping TENS Machines For more information, please ask your physiotherapist or book your appointment for a thorough assessment and Osgood Schlatter’s Disease management. Contact PhysioWorks or Book Online FAQs about Osgood Schlatter Disease What is Pain? Physiotherapy & Exercise When Should Diagnostic Tests Be Performed? What are the Different Massage Styles and their Benefits? How Does Kinesiology Tape Reduce Swelling? How Can You Prevent a Future Leg Injury? How Much Treatment Will You Need? How to Stretch? Sports Injury? What to do? When? What are Growing Pains? What are the Common Massage Therapy Techniques? What are the Early Warning Signs of an Injury? What is Chronic Pain? What is Sports Physiotherapy? When Can You Return to Sport or Work? Contact PhysioWorks or Book Online Helpful Products for Osgood Schlatter Disease Taping or a patella tendon support may provide pain relief and load reduction at the painful site. Occasionally foot orthotics may need to be prescribed. There are mixed views on how effective these are, since the foot structure is rapidly changing at this age. Ask your physiotherapist or podiatrist for advice. Related Injuries ACL Tear Chondromalacia Patella Discoid Meniscus Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome Knee Arthritis Knee Bursitis (Patellar Bursitis) Knee Ligament Injury Knee Meniscus Injury Knee Replacement Muscle Pain: Strains or Tears Osgood Schlatter Disease Patella Tendonitis (Tendinopathy) Patellofemoral Pain (Kneecap Pain) Quadriceps (Thigh) Muscle Strain Severs Disease Sinding Larsen Johansson Syndrome Stress Fracture

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