Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease is an inflammation of the patellar ligament at the point where it attaches to the tibial tuberosity, a bony bump on the shin just below the kneecap, and it typically affects adolescents during growth spurts. It produces a painful bump below the knee that worsens with activity, especially sports involving frequent running or jumping, and improves with rest, with episodes usually lasting weeks to months and sometimes affecting both knees. It arises from repeated tension on the growth plate of the upper tibia from overuse, and is diagnosed mainly from clinical symptoms rather than imaging, though plain X-rays may show fragmentation at the attachment site. Standard treatment is conservative, including rest, ice, and specific stretching and strengthening exercises, with over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen for symptom relief and less stressful activities such as swimming recommended during flare-ups. About four percent of people experience it, most often boys aged ten to fifteen and girls aged eight to fourteen, and pain typically resolves once the growth plates close, generally by age sixteen in boys and fourteen in girls, though a bony bump can persist afterward.