The ailment of Osgood-Schlatter is able to manifest itself in the form of a painful lump in an area located just below the patella. It can occur both in childhood and adolescence, during puberty. Schlatter's disease of the knee joint in adolescents occurs most often in those involved in sports. Especially such species as jumping, running. This also includes activity that requires quick changes in the trajectory of movement. For example, a game of football or basketball.
Schlatter disease age category
So, more details. Despite the fact that this disease is mainly found among boys, the narrowing of the gender gap occurs as girls become involved in various sports. The disease affects any category of adolescents involved in sports in an approximate ratio of one to five. The age range in the framework of susceptibility to this disease is based on the gender aspect, since puberty in girls occurs much earlier than in boys. Thus, in young children this can happen at thirteen to fourteen years, and in girls at eleven to twelve. Schlatter 's knee joint disease in a teenager (is it possible to play sports, we will consider below), as a rule, arises on its own. As a result of the cessation of bone growth.
Among the main risk factors for the manifestation of the disease are the age, gender of the child and participation in sports. The disease is most often observed in boys. But the gender gap is narrowing as more and more girls begin to engage in various sports. How does Schlatter's disease of the knee in a teenager manifest? Let's get it right.
Main symptoms
The most common symptoms of this disease include the following disorders:
- Edema and the presence of soreness in the area of the tibial tuberosity, located slightly below the patella.
- Pain in the knees, worse after physical activity. Basically, when running, jumping and climbing stairs. As a rule, discomfort decreases as the body approaches a calm state.
- Significant muscle tension in the body, mainly in the thigh area - the quadriceps.
Nature of pain
The pains are of a different nature and depend on each organism individually. Some may experience only mild pain during certain types of activities. Especially when running or jumping. In others, the pain can be persistent and debilitating. Basically, Schlatter's disease of the knee in a teenager only develops in one limb. But sometimes it can apply to both at once. Discomfort, as a rule, lasts from several weeks to several months and can wear regular color until the child stops growing.
Causes of the manifestation of the disease
Each tubular bone of a child, located in the arm or leg, has its own growth zones, which actively manifest themselves in the region of the end of the bones, consisting of cartilage. This tissue is not strong enough, like bone, and therefore is much more likely to undergo damage and excessive loads that affect the growth zone, which ultimately can lead to swelling and general pain in this zone. During physical activity, including prolonged running, jumping and bending, for example, in football, volleyball, basketball or ballet, the muscles of the hips in children stretch the tendons. Thus, the quadriceps muscle is tensioned, connecting the patella to the tibia. This is confirmed by reviews of Schlatter's disease of the knee in a teenager.
Similar, often repeated loads can lead to small tear tendons from the tibia, which will ultimately become a prerequisite for the appearance of edema and pain, which is directly related to Schlatter's disease. In some situations, the child’s body attempts to close the described defect through bone growth, which leads to the appearance of a bone cone.
Sports that can cause Schlatter disease
Further. Schlatter's disease occurs in almost twenty percent of adolescents who take part in sporting events, while only a small part of them are not involved in active activities at all. The disease is often able to manifest itself against the background of enthusiasm for such species, which require a lot of jumping, running and changing the trajectory, for example:
- football;
- ballet;
- basketball;
- gymnastics;
- volleyball;
- figure skating.
How to anesthetize a knee joint in a teenager with Schlatter disease? About it further.
Possible complications
Complications of the disease are extremely rare. They may include the presence of chronic pain, or local swelling, which should be treated by applying cold compresses. It often happens that even after the symptoms disappear, a bone cone on the lower leg may remain in the area of swelling. This tubercle can remain to one degree or another throughout the life of a person, but, as a rule, it does not affect and does not violate the healthy activity of the knee. Are they admitted to the army with Schlatter 's disease of the knee in a teenager? This is a frequently asked question. It all depends on how the disease proceeds. With the advanced stage, even after all the procedures performed, the joint will not function normally. All changes in bone tissue by a doctor are recorded. At the military commission, the conscript must provide a separate extract, which will indicate the presence of functional changes in the bone tissue of the tibia. This is a guarantee that you don’t have to join the army.
Diagnosis of the disease
As part of the diagnosis, the history of the course of the disease is important. Therefore, the doctor may need the following information:
- A thorough description of any symptoms and sensations experienced by the patient.
- Information about family health and family inheritance.
- The presence of a relationship of symptoms with physical exertion.
- Information about all the medications and nutritional supplements that the child is taking.
- Information about the existence of medical ailments in the past, in particular, in relation to any injuries sustained.
In order to diagnose Schlatter's disease, the doctor should examine the patient's knee joint, which will make it possible to determine the presence of pain, redness or swelling. In addition, an assessment will be made of the volume and extent of movements in the knee and thigh. As instrumental methods in the diagnosis, radiography of the lower leg and knee joint is mainly used, which allows you to visualize the area where the tendon of the patella and tibia are combined.
Treatment for Schlatter's disease of the knee in a teenager
Usually this disease can be cured on its own, and its symptoms disappear immediately after stopping bone growth. However, if the symptoms are very pronounced, medication methods, physiotherapy and therapeutic physical culture - physical therapy should be included.
As part of the drug treatment of Schlatter's disease of the knee joint in a teenager, ointments and tablets are usually prescribed painkillers such as acetaminophen - Tylenol and other drugs. Another medicine that may be suitable is ibuprofen. Physiotherapy makes it possible to reduce inflammatory processes and relieve swelling along with pain.
Exercise therapy
Physiotherapy exercises are necessary for the selection of exercises aimed at stretching the quadriceps muscle and the hamstrings, which subsequently will certainly help reduce the load on the area of fastening of the tissues of the patella with the tibia. Exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles of the thigh can also help in stabilizing the knee joint. It will not be superfluous to change your lifestyle. Surgery of the knee joint in Schlatter's disease in a teenager is required only in the most extreme cases.
Recommendations
Among other things, the following measures are proposed for the treatment, prevention and reduction of pain:
- Complete relief should be provided for the joint and those activities that increase symptoms, such as jumping, kneeling, or running, should be limited.
- Cold can be applied to the area of damage.
- Use knee pads during sports.
- Replace running and jumping sports with sports such as cycling or swimming. It is advisable to do this at least for the time necessary for the subsidence of symptoms.
Among other things, it will be useful to do massage in the region of the lower extremities. During physical therapy, it is advisable to include exercises specifically designed for this, due to which there will be a decrease in the tension of the patella tissue attached to the tibia. In addition, the treatment complex must certainly include exercises that will be aimed at the general strengthening of the muscles of the hips. An excellent complement to therapeutic measures can be the use of folk remedies.
Surgical intervention
In situations where there is a pronounced destruction and deformation of bone tissue in the area of the tibial head, it may be necessary to turn to surgical intervention. The general essence of such an operation is to eliminate necrotic foci and areas with subsequent hemming of the fixation tuberosity of the tibia graft. This is serious.
Among the majority of patients who underwent Schlatter's knee joint disease in a teenager (photo above) and underwent a course of treatment, a pronounced protrusion of the tibial tuberosity in the form of a cone remains. But this does not cause absolutely no pain or discomfort and fully preserves the normal activity of the knee joint. Although in a number of some cases various complications can be observed, during which the patella moves a little up, and it begins to deform. In addition, the development of osteoarthritis of the knee joint is possible, as a result of which pain will be constantly felt on the bent knee during support. A number of patients who have undergone treatment continue to complain about the persistence of unpleasant sensations and aching aches that occur in the knee amid changing weather.
Thus, even despite the possibility of treating Schlatter's disease of the knee joint in a teenager at home, it is still advisable not to heal this ailment independently. And in accordance with the prescribed treatment course by an orthopedist, traumatologist or surgeon.