Here’s one you may never have heard of - Osgood Schlatter disease. If you have heard of it, it’s most likely because you know someone who has had it. My friend has a daughter who was diagnosed with Osgood Schlatter’s at a young age. It was painful for her to even walk up and down the stairs. It was stressful for both her and her parents.
The condition is named after the American surgeon Robert Bayley Osgood (1873–1956) and the Swiss surgeon Carl Schlatter (1864–1934), who independently described the disease in 1903.
Osgood Schlatter disease is a pain in the knee caused by rapid growth in children. Combined with movements like as running and jumping (sports like soccer, volleyball, basketball, track and gymnastics), it can be quite painful. Although it’s more common in boys, it’s quickly becoming more common in girls that are active in sports.
At the end of the tibia in the leg, just below the knee cap, there is a growth plate made of cartilage. Before growth is complete, repeated overuse can cause the quadriceps muscles to pull on the tendon from where it connects to the shinbone. Sometimes the body will try to heal itself and create new bone growth where the tendon is being pulled away, resulting in a bony lump.
Unfortunately, treatment for Osgood Schlatter’s is usually just good old ice and rest! A physician might recommend or prescribe pain medication depending on the age and health of the child, but make sure to talk to your physician first. Typically, the pain goes away once the child’s bone has stopped growing.
So did I introduce you to something new today? Let me know - I’m very curious! Have you known anyone with Osgood Schlatter’s disease?
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