Osgood-Schlatter Disease

The athletically minded aged 10 to 15 year old youngster can get a pain on one side of the knee. The pain is localized at the insertion of the quadriceps tendon (patellar tendon) at the "tibial tubercle". This anatomical location is at the upper end of the tibia bone.

As the bone is still growing at this age, the growth plate in this location experiences a growth plate injury much easier with excessive traction from resisted knee extension. Running, soccer playing and other sports are all high risk activities in this age group.

Knee X-rays taken from the side show a profile of this area and demonstrate fragmentation of the tibial tubercle allowing the physician to diagnose Osgood-Schlatter disease.

Treatment of Osgood-Schlatter disease consists of rest, avoiding the sport that precipitated this including excessive exercises that would have involved resisted knee extension. Unfortunately it takes often several weeks or even months before Osgood-Schlatter disease heals, but it usually heals without any complications. More complicated or chronic forms need attention from an orthopedic surgeon. Surgery is rarely required (Ref.3, p. 2414).

There is an FDA approved non-drug method available, IceWave patches from Lifewave, which will control pain and can be useful for the pain of Osgood-Schlatter disease as well. This is mentioned in the book "Breakthrough" by Suzanne Somers (Ref. 8) where newer insights of antiaging medicine are also reviewed. Although the patches are placed over acupuncture points, there are no needles involved. Nanotechnology, a newer technology, was used in the manufacturing of these patches and infrared (heat) waves from body heat are utilized to stimulate an acupuncture point, which modifies pain perception and reduces pain to half or less. Medically this would be considered an excellent pain reliever. For more info on the patches see the IceWave patches from Lifewave link above (click "products"). In the US a 5 pack of the IceWave spray is available that can be directly sprayed onto the skin in the area where the pain is located.

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Disclaimer:

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you.

References:

1. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 157.

2. ABC of rheumatology, second edition, edited by Michael L. Snaith , M.D., BMJ Books, 1999. Chapter 4.

3. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 270.

4. Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics: http://www.wheelessonline.com/

8. Suzanne Somers: "Breakthrough" Eight Steps to Wellness-- Life-altering Secrets from Today's Cutting-edge Doctors", Crown Publishers, 2008

Last Modified: Nov. 15, 2008