Osgood-Schlatter disease

Osgood-Schlatter's Disease

Many adolescents suffer from knee pain commonly associated with bone growth. However, the symptoms may also be due to a condition called Osgood-Schlatter disease. Severe pain below the kneecap under load is a typical feature. Especially for young people, the associated restriction of mobility is particularly unpleasant, but should be respected to a conservation urgent, so as not to risk long-term impairment.

contents

• Osgood-Schlatter's Disease
• definition
• Symptoms and complaints
• causes
• diagnosis
• treatment
• Naturopathy and Osgood-Schlatter disease

definition

The disease Osgood-Schlatter disease is named after an American (Robert Osgood) and a Swiss surgeon (Carl Schlatter) who independently addressed the issue at the beginning of the 20th century. They described an ossification disorder at Sehnenanstz below the kneecap at the level of the tibial bone, which may at worst be associated with the chipping small bone particles. The result is stinging knee pain, swelling and restricted mobility. Alternative names for the symptoms are Osgood-Schlatter disease, osteochondrosis deformans juvenile tuberositas tibiae, apophysitis tibialis adolescentium or also continuum distortion below the kneecap.

Adolescents who exercise a lot are especially affected by Osgood-Schlatter's disease. (Image: contrastwerkstatt / fotolia.com)

Symptoms and complaints

On admission, the tendon of the four-headed thigh muscle below the kneecap suffers from stinging pains, which usually manifest during exercise such as exercise or walking, and tend to be tender. Often there is also a swelling. This may also be present without causing discomfort. Patients often describe their symptoms as knee pain, patellar pain, or pain below the kneecap.

causes

The symptoms usually occur in 11-13 year old male adolescents and athletes. It is believed that there is an imbalance between strain on the tendon insertion and ossification, and thus irritation and disruption of individual pieces of bone may result. Clearly, however, the emergence of the symptoms is not yet.

diagnosis

The diagnosis is usually made on the basis of a palpation of the knee and the described symptoms (pain after exertion below the kneecap). Further examinations such as X-rays are only necessary if changes in the bone structure are suspected or other diseases are to be excluded.

treatment

Above all, the treatment aims to protect the affected knee. Further sporty strains are to be avoided and if necessary we temporarily put on a plaster cast. The joint pain can be treated with medication and accompanying physiotherapy also has positive effects. Ultimately, however, there is sufficient time for healing. Once the growth has been completed or the growth cells are closed, there is sufficient ossification and the symptoms disappear. However, this can take months and those affected are relatively restricted in their mobility during this time. Occasionally disturbing ossifications are left behind, which have to be eliminated surgically.

Above all, manual therapies have proven effective in the treatment of Osgood-Schlatter's disease. (Image: photophonie / fotolia.com)

Naturopathy and Osgood-Schlatter disease

In the naturopathy, cold applications in the field of hydrotherapy are often used successfully against the acute pain in the knee joint in Osgood-Schlatter disease. However, they are only for symptom relief. A positive effect on healing, however, is attributed to manual therapies.

Concepts such as osteopathy or Rolfing involve the entire organism in diagnosis and treatment. Factors such as overall statics, vascular care and everyday use and under stress are taken into account accordingly in the therapy.

Following the Fascial Distortion Model (FDM) approach, the symptoms are due to a soft tissue-bone junction disorder. Here is therefore treated with strong thumb pressure at various points below the kneecap. Overall, the manual treatment methods can certainly contribute to a rapid resolution of the symptoms, provided that the concerned observe the renunciation of stress. (Jvs, tf, fp)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)