Osgood-Schlatter Disease (OSD)

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a painful swelling of the bump on the upper part of the shinbone, just below the knee. This bump is called the anterior tibial tubercle. Osgood-Schlatter Disease was found by doctors Robert Osgood and Carl Schlatter as OSD after recognizing a pattern of symptoms in their patients in 1903. They found that OSD was a growth-related problem seen mostly in young, athletes and it is more likely to happen during a growth spurt.

Frequent use and physical stress cause inflammation at the point where the tendon from the kneecap attaches to the shinbone. Osgood-Schlatter disease is an overuse injury of the knee.

The area is stressed by frequent use, which leads to inflammation or even a tiny fracture of the shin bone. The pain worsens with exercise, jumping, and sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, figure skating, and gymnastics. Both knees are affected to some people.

OSD affects guys more than girls, especially who are active in sports involving deep knee bends, jumping, and running. OSD affects girls, who are participating in competitive sports.

The symptoms of OSD  are pain, swelling, or tenderness below the knee, pain that becomes worse during activities such as running and jumping, limping after physical activity

With OSD, these symptoms usually go away or feel better when a person rests. OSD can cause very different symptoms in different people; it depends upon the severity of the condition. Some people may feel mild knee pain only when they play sports and others may feel constant pain that makes playing any sport difficult.