Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Children and adolescents are the population that is often diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter Disease. The condition is caused by the formation of a painful lump below the patella during growth spurts. Children who participate in high-intensity sports, like soccer, volleyball, and ballet (activities with lots of running, jumping and directional changes) are more at risk of the disease than not. Boys are more often diagnosed than girls.
The reason Osgood-Schlatter diseases happens during growth spurts is due to the pulling away of the kneecap from the shinbone. As the bone elongates, a gap forms that is closed with bony growth. The pain from this can be mild to extreme. However, the pain of the condition will usually disappear as the bones stop growing in adulthood.
