There are children who grow little by little progressively, while others grow remarkably overnight. Whatever the case, at puberty, between the ages of 9 and 14, they tend to reach their growth spurt and gain height to a greater or lesser extent. During this process, it is common for them to complain of knee pain that cannot be attributed to a blow, injury or poor posture.
The usual response to this knee pain from adults is to attribute it to the fact that the little ones are growing. But what not everyone knows is that this pain is behind a disease that, although it is not serious, should be known to know how to act in case children suffer from it.
Knee pain in growing children is associated with Osgood-Schlatter disease. According to the specialized website TeensHealth, this disease consists of inflammation and irritation of the growth cartilage in the upper part of the tibia. The growth plate is the layer of cartilage located at the end of the bones, where most of the bone growth occurs. Since it is a weak area, there is a greater risk of injury compared to the rest of the bone.
The symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease are pain and swelling below the kneecap. In addition, this discomfort worsens when doing physical activity, be it walking, running, climbing slopes or stairs, or practicing any sport. Also, it can cause lameness. The disease can manifest in one or both knees and usually disappears when the person stops growing, without leading to long-term complications.
It occurs in the spurt of puberty, since the bones, muscles and tendons grow at different rates. In Osgood-Schlatter disease, the tendon that connects the tibia to the patella pulls on the growth plate at the top of the tibia. Therefore, physical activity and sports cause damage to the growth cartilage, giving rise to knee pain.
