20 Apr Diagnosing Osgood-Schlatter
Is your child an active member in sports, but has started to experience knee pain? Has this pain coincided with swelling just below their kneecap? If this is the case, they could be dealing with Osgood-Schlatter disease. At Advanced Orthopedics & Joint Preservation, our staff is well versed in this condition. Our Orthopedist in Valley Stream on Long Island can diagnose Osgood-Schlatter disease when it develops, allowing treatment to be administered as soon as possible.
What Is Osgood-Schlatter Disease?
The pain and swelling that are present during Osgood-Schlatter disease come from the development of a bony bump that grows just below the knee on the shinbone. Typically, Osgood-Schlatter disease is found in adolescents that participate in sports that involve running, jumping, and sudden changes of direction. Growth spurts also play a role in the onset of Osgood-Schlatter disease. If your adolescent child begins to experience any of the below symptoms, our orthopedist in Valley Stream will be able to diagnose what has caused them:
- Pain or swelling in one or both knees.
- Pain that worsens when running, jumping, and kneeling.
- Instability of the knee joint.
Diagnosis With Our Orthopedist in Valley Stream
Garnering a proper diagnosis of the knee issue will be the first step in creating an effective plan for treatment. Fortunately, the diagnosis process for Osgood-Schlatter disease is typically a relatively simple one. When diagnosing this condition, our orthopedist in Valley Stream will check the joint for pain, redness, and swelling. This examination alone is usually enough to determine the presence of Osgood-Schlatter. However, an x-ray of the knee may also be performed to verify that a bony growth has indeed developed.
Preventing Osgood-Schlatter
Most cases of Osgood-Schlatter can be treated in a relatively easy fashion. Once the adolescent child stops growing, the symptoms tend to dissipate on their own. However, in extreme cases where the pain caused by this condition is debilitating, our Orthopedist in Valley Stream can perform surgery to remove the bony growth, returning functionality levels to normal. To prevent the development of this disease and the need for surgery, our team recommends doing the following:
- Switching to a sport that does not put pressure on the knees.
- Taking a break from a sport or activity when knee pain begins to develop.
- Wearing shock-absorbing shoes when exerting yourself physically.
- Performing hamstring and quadricep stretches before beginning your activity.
Request An Appointment
When your adolescent child begins to experience knee pain, don’t wait to get the issue diagnosed. Our orthopedist in Valley Stream will perform a thorough examination to determine if Osgood-Schlatter is present, and assess what the best course of action moving forward will be. To get this process started, request an appointment with our team at Advanced Orthopedics & Joint Preservation today!
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