Schlatter's disease: symptoms and treatment

The doctor( orthopedist or traumatologist) can diagnose the disease under examination on the basis of the data obtained during the conversation with the patient( information about sports and complaints) and the results of the examination.To confirm the diagnosis, additional studies may be required - radiography of the knee and shin( allows to assess the state of the tibia at the attachment point of the tendon of the quadriceps muscle), ultrasound of the knee joint to exclude his injuries or inflammatory diseases, blood tests( general clinical and rheumatic tests).

Treatment of Schlatter's disease

For severe symptoms, patients are shown :

• Rest.
• Medication.
• LFK( therapeutic physical training).
• Physiotherapy.

Rest is an obligatory component of treatment.If the diseased leg continues to give strain, the pathological changes in the tibia will become even worse.Therefore, for a while you should stop completely training, in some cases, doctors even recommend changing the occupation to less traumatic for the musculoskeletal system.Prior to the extinction of acute symptoms, the knee joint should be made inactive by applying a fixative bandage.

Of the drugs, the basis for the treatment of Schläter's osteochondropathy is analgesic anti-inflammatory drugs ( eg ibuprofen).In addition, you can use a variety of ointments, creams, gels, which have analgesic effect.Medical therapy must be prescribed by a doctor, since most anti-inflammatory drugs have side effects and numerous contraindications.The duration of such treatment is determined individually, depending on the characteristics of the course of the disease.

When the severity of the pain decreases, exercise can begin.For patients with tibial osteochondropathy, exercises are selected that promote the gradual extension of the quadriceps muscle of the thigh and tendons, as well as the pumping of muscles that ensure the stability of the knee joint.The stretching of the muscles of the thigh and tendons, which fixes the patella to the tibia, allows to reduce the load on the area of ​​this fastening, that is, in fact, to prevent the deterioration of Schlätter's disease in the future.

Some physiotherapeutic treatments for have good efficacy in osteochondropathy( they can only be used after the inflammation is completely suppressed):

• UHF therapy.
• Shock Wave Therapy.
• Ultrasound.
• Magnetotherapy.
• Electrophoresis with calcium preparations.
• Electrostimulation.
• Mud treatment.
• Paraffin therapy.

In addition, various water procedures are very beneficial for the condition of the musculoskeletal system.They promote the relaxation of muscles and ligaments, reduce pain syndrome.Therefore, many children with osteochondropathy are advised by doctors after the end of the course of basic therapy to continue treatment in a sanatorium-resort setting.

Prevention of Schlatter's disease

Prophylaxis of osteochondropathy of the tibia is as follows:

• in use during the exercise of special protective knee pads;
• in minimizing knee injuries;
• in gradual increase of loads and mandatory warm-up warm-ups at the beginning of each workout( if muscles and tendons are elastic and supple, the load on the area of ​​their attachment to the bones is significantly reduced).

In addition, orthopedists recommend in periods of active growth and increased physical activity give young athletes special vitamin-mineral complexes, which must necessarily include calcium.

Zubkova Olga Sergeevna, medical reviewer, epidemiologist