Osgood-Schlatter’s disease, also known as growth pain, is characterized by pain that occurs in the leg near the knee in children between 3 and 10 years of age. This pain most often occurs just below the knee, but can spread to the ankle, especially at night and during physical activity.
Growth pain is thought to be a consequence of bone growth faster than muscle growth, causing micro-trauma to the quadriceps tendon, which occurs when the child goes through a period of stretching, when it grows a lot. It is not exactly a disease, and does not require specific treatment, but causes discomfort, requiring evaluation by the pediatrician.
- The most common is the appearance of pain only in the leg and near the knee.
- But some children may experience the same pain in their arms and still have a headache at the same time.
Growth pain causes pain and discomfort, especially at the end of the day, after the child has been physically active, jumped, or jumped.
The pain in these places usually lasts 1 week, then disappears completely for a few months, until it reappears; this cycle can be repeated during childhood and adolescence.
Your doctor usually only makes your diagnosis by looking at the child’s characteristics and listening to your complaints, and very rarely, tests are necessary, but your doctor may order an X-ray or blood test to exclude the risk of other illnesses or fractures.
As a treatment, parents can massage the wound with a little moisturizer, then an ice pack wrapped in a thin layer or cloth can be placed for 20 minutes to reduce pain. On crisis days, rest is also recommended, avoiding intense physical activity.
Stretching exercises that can help relieve leg pain include
Pain usually goes away over the years and when the teen reaches its maximum height around age 18, the pain disappears completely.
While the child is still growing, pain can occur, especially after more impactful activities, such as playing football, jiu-jitsu or other activities involving running, so it is more appropriate for the child suffering from growth pain to avoid this type of activity, preferring something with less impact such as swimming and yoga.
Your doctor generally doesn’t recommend taking medications to combat increased pain, as children and teens shouldn’t take medication unnecessarily, massage the place, put ice and rest are sufficient measures to manage pain and feel better, however, when the pain is severe or when the child is a competitive athlete, your doctor may recommend medications.
You should see your doctor if your child has other symptoms such as
These are signs of other conditions, which are not related to increased pain, and the child should be evaluated by the pediatrician.