Osgood Schlatter Disease in Adults – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Are you suffering from painful inflammation and pain in your knee area? Knee pain doesn’t have to be always related to old age. In case, you are an adult or your child is complaining of knee pain, it shouldn’t be neglected at all. Might it be the case of Osgood Schlatter? Have you heard about the condition that causes knee pain and discomforting inflammation? Osgood Schlatter disease in adults also seems to be quite common worldwide.

What do you Understand by Osgood Schlatter Disease?

Osgood Schlatter cannot be referred as a disease, but more of a disorder or condition, which is characterized by discomforting and painful inflammation, under your kneecap. This is a condition that is dominantly found among the growing adolescent boys, who are usually involved in different types of sports and physical activities like running and jumping. The condition is quite painful, and thereby Osgood Schlatter removal is necessary.

In fact, the painful condition is also found among several young girls as well. It has been found that young girls who are mainly involved in the sports activities like ballet, gymnastics, skating, volleyball, basketball, and others that require jumping and running complain about the same. The most common age group getting affected are 10 to 15 years. But, we cannot rule out the Osgood Schlatter disease in adults as well.

Osgood Schlatter Disease in Adults is Rare but not Unheard

Osgood Schlatter is common among growing kids or teenagers, usually from 10 to 18 years, but is not uncommon among adults as well. Osgood Schlatter disease in adults is quite rare, but if you research well, you will get to read and heard about it as well. But, the good news is that the grown-ups or the adults suffering from the condition might not experience pain as the teenagers. Moreover, it usually affects one knee.

Usually, it has been found that kids or teenagers who have suffered from the painful condition usually continue with Osgood Schlatter when grown up fully. Do you know the reason behind the Osgood Schlatter disease in adults? It is caused by the pieces of bone left from the bone, which was getting transformed into cartilage in the knee. It has also been found that the fragments of bone that remain in the patellar tendon from unresolved Osgood Schlatter can cause inflammation and discomfort.

How does Osgood Schlatter Occur?

When young teenagers or even adults involved in different sports and physical activities. There is a chance of Osgood Schlatter lumps and related conditions. When you suffer from the condition, the thigh muscles tightly pull against the kneecap and its anchor, known as the Patellar Tendon. The patellar tendon fibers are connected to the tibia or the shinbone. When there is a repeated pulling of the fiber attachments, there is an inflamed tendon near the bone connections.

Thus, there is swelling and pain, and Osgood Schlatter disease in adults and young adolescents is common. The condition seems to be more prone when there is an injury or muscle stress in children with rapid bone growth. This is the reason why the condition is more common among the teenagers. Girls are found to suffer from the condition usually between the age group 10 to 16 years, while boys suffer between 11 years to 18 years. It is more common among boys.

What are the Common Symptoms of this Condition?

In the majority of the cases, the symptoms of Osgood Schlatter disease in adults and teenagers. It develops as a result of continuous stress on the patellar tendon. Let us find the symptoms of the condition.

• Swelling and tenderness of the soft tissues below the kneecap
• Pain and discomfort ranging from minor to severe
• Redness and a warm feel under the kneecap
• A bump or a lump located above the shinbone

The pain from Osgood Schlatter disease in adults and teenagers can occur while playing any sports and it can minor. But often the pain can be continuous that will surely limit the physical activities of the sufferers. In fact, you can experience pain and discomfort while you are climbing stairs, kneeling, kicking or squatting. Usually, it is found that the pain appears in one of the knees. But it can affect both the knees as well.

The Diagnosis of Osgood Schlatter

Osgood Schlatter disease in adults and teenagers must be treated right on time to avoid unwanted situations. The doctor will evaluate your condition and based on your age group, sex, sports history and knee symptoms will suspect or diagnose the problem. The doctor will evaluate the swelling, tenderness, redness and the pain of the knee section along with the range of movements in your knee joints and the hips.

In case, the doctor doesn’t get a clear picture by examining externally, he/she will go for a knee X-ray scan. The X-ray scanning can showcase the minute bone pieces that might have got detached from the top section of the shinbone. Abnormal calcium deposits in the patellar tendon can also be detected with the scanning. Based on the diagnosis, you will be suggested with the perfect Osgood Schlatter removal method.

Osgood Schlatter leads to serious conditions as well when untreated for a prolonged period. Hence, it is suggested that you must undertake all the necessary scans and lab tests so that the doctor can diagnose the issue without wasting time and receive the treatment right on time. An ultrasound or an MRI scan might be suggested to examine the patellar tendon in more details.

Treatment Possibilities for Adults as well as Teenagers

The good news is that Osgood Schlatter disease in adults, as well as teenagers. It can be treated with the help of different methods. They are:

• Following the RICE treatment (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
• Using a Knee Brace
• Specific Osgood Schlatter exercises and stretches
• In extreme cases, opting for Osgood Schlatter disease surgery