Osgood-Schlatter disease can manifest itself in the form of a painful bump in the area just below the kneecap. It can occur both in childhood and in adolescence, during puberty. Schlatter's disease of the knee joint in adolescents is most common in those who play sports. Especially such types as jumping, running. It also includes activities that require rapid changes in the trajectory of movement. For example, playing football or basketball.
Age category of susceptibility to Schlatter's disease
So, more details. Despite the fact that this disease predominantly occurs among boys, the gender gap is narrowing as girls becomepracticing various sports. The disease affects any category of adolescents involved in sports in an approximate ratio of one to five. The range of age within the susceptibility to this disease is based on the gender aspect, since girls go through puberty much earlier than boys. Thus, in young boys it can happen at thirteen or fourteen years old, and in girls at eleven or twelve. Schlatter's disease of the knee joint in a teenager (is it possible to play sports, we will consider below), as a rule, occurs 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, sex of the child and participation in sports. The disease is most often observed in boys. But the gender gap is narrowing as more girls gradually take up the sport. How does Schlatter's disease of the knee manifest itself in a teenager? Let's figure it out.
Main symptoms
The most common symptoms of this disease include the following disorders:
- Swelling and pain in the tibial tuberosity, just below the kneecap.
- Pain in the knees, worse after physical activity. Mostly when running, jumping and climbing stairs. As a rule, discomfort decreases as the body approaches a calm state.
- Significant tension in the muscles of the body, mainly in the thigh area - the quadriceps.
Character of pain
Pain is of a different nature and depends on each organism individually. Some may experience only mild pain during certain types of activities. Especially when running or jumping. For others, the pain can be constant and debilitating. Basically, Schlatter's disease of the knee joint in a teenager develops in only one limb. But sometimes it can apply to both at once. Discomfort typically lasts from a few weeks to a few months and may wear regular coloring 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 be damaged and overloaded, which affect the growth zones, which can eventually lead to swelling and general soreness of this zone. During physical activity that includes long runs, jumps, and bends, such as in football, volleyball, basketball, or ballet, the thigh muscles in children stretch the tendons. Thus, there is a tension in the quadriceps muscle, which connects the patella to the tibia. This is confirmed by reviews of Schlatter's disease of the knee joint in a teenager.
Similar, often repeated loads can lead to small tearstendons from the tibia, which will eventually become a prerequisite for the appearance of edema and pain, which are directly related to Schlatter's disease. In some situations, the child's body attempts to close the described defect through the growth of bone tissue, which leads to the appearance of a bone bump.
Sports that can cause the development of Schlatter's disease
Next. Schlatter's disease occurs in almost twenty percent of adolescents who take part in sports competitions, while only a small part of them do not engage in active activities at all. The disease is often able to manifest itself against the background of passion for such species, which require a lot of jumping, running and changing the trajectory of movement, for example:
- football;
- ballet;
- basketball;
- gymnastics;
- volleyball;
- figure skating.
How to anesthetize the knee joint in a teenager with Schlatter's disease? More on that later.
Possible Complications
Complications of the disease are extremely rare. These may include the presence of chronic pain or localized swelling that can be treated with cold compresses. It often happens that even after the symptoms disappear, a bone bump on the lower leg in the area of swelling may remain. This bump may remain to varying degrees throughout life.person, but generally does not affect or interfere with the he althy functioning of the knee. Do they take a teenager with Schlatter's disease of the knee joint into the army? This is a frequently asked question. It all depends on how the disease proceeds. At an advanced stage, even after all the procedures performed, the joint will not function normally. All changes in bone tissues are recorded by the doctor. At the military commission, the recruit 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 will not have to join the army.
Disease diagnosis
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 or sensations the patient is experiencing.
- Information about family he alth and family inheritance.
- The presence of a relationship between symptoms and exercise.
- Details of all medicines and supplements the child is taking.
- Information about the existence of medical ailments in the past, in particular in relation to any trauma suffered.
In order to diagnose Schlatter's disease, the doctor must examine the patient's knee joint, which will make it possible to determine the presence of soreness, redness or swelling. In addition, an assessment will be made of the amount and degree of motion in the knee and hip. As instrumental methods in the diagnosis, radiography of the lower leg and knee is mainly used.joint, which allows you to visualize the area of combination of the tendon of the patella and the tibia.
Treatment of Schlatter's disease of the knee joint in a teenager
Usually, this ailment can be cured on its own, and its symptoms disappear immediately after bone growth stops. However, if the symptoms are severe, medication methods, physiotherapy and therapeutic physical culture should be included - exercise therapy.
As part of the drug treatment of Schlatter's disease of the knee in a teenager, ointments and tablets are usually prescribed painkillers such as acetaminophen - Tylenol and other drugs. Another medication that may be suitable is ibuprofen. Physiotherapy makes it possible to reduce inflammation and relieve swelling along with pain.
exercise therapy
Therapeutic exercise is necessary for the selection of exercises aimed at stretching the quadriceps muscle and hamstrings, which subsequently will certainly reduce the load on the area where the tissues of the patella are fastened to the tibia. Exercises that strengthen the thigh muscles can also help stabilize the knee joint. It will not be superfluous to change your lifestyle. Knee surgery for Schlatter's disease in a teenager is required only in the most extreme cases.
Recommendations
The following interventions are proposed, among others, for the treatment, prevention and reductionpain:
- Give full relief to the joint and limit activities that aggravate symptoms, such as jumping, kneeling, or running.
- You can apply cold to the affected area.
- Use knee pads when exercising.
- Replace sports based on running and jumping with sports such as cycling or swimming. It is advisable to do this at least for the time necessary for the symptoms to subside.
Among other things, it will be useful to massage the lower extremities. During physiotherapy exercises, it is desirable to include exercises specially 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 general strengthening of the thigh muscles. An excellent addition to therapeutic measures can be the use of folk remedies.
Surgery
In situations where there is a pronounced destruction and deformation of the bone tissue in the region 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, followed by suturing of the fixing tuberosity of the tibial transplant. This is serious.
Among the majority of patients undergoingSchlatter's disease of the knee joint in a teenager (the photo is presented above) and those who have undergone treatment, a pronounced protrusion of the tibial tuberosity in the form of a bump remains. But it causes absolutely no pain or discomfort and completely preserves the normal functioning of the knee joint. Although in some cases, various complications can be observed, during which the patella is slightly shifted upwards, 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 during support on a bent knee. A number of patients who have undergone a course of treatment continue to complain about the persistence of discomfort and aching ache that occurs in the knee against the backdrop of changing weather.
Thus, even despite the possibility of treating Schlatter's disease of the knee joint in a teenager at home, it is still desirable not to heal this disease on your own. And in accordance with the treatment course prescribed by the orthopedist, traumatologist or surgeon.
