Dealing with Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Osgood-Schlatter disease is a very common cause of knee pain in children and young athletes usually between the ages of 11 and 14. It occurs due to a period of rapid growth, combined with a high level of sporting activity.
These changes result in a pulling force from the patella (knee cap) tendon, on to the tibial tuberosity (bony protrusion at the top of the shin). This area then becomes inflamed, painful and swollen.
Osgood-Schlatter disease is more likely in teens who participate in sports that involve running, twisting and jumping, such as basketball, football and gymnastics.
Why is it called Osgood-Schlatter disease?
It was named after two physicians in 1903, Dr. Robert Osgood and Dr. Carl Schlatter. These Doctors defined the disease.
What are the symptoms?
• Pain at the tibial tuberosity
• The tibial tuberosity may become swollen or inflamed and may even become more prominent than the other side
• Tenderness and pain is worse during and after exercise
• Pain when contracting the quadriceps against resistance or when contracting the muscles with the leg straight.
Treatment options
Osgood-Schlatter syndrome often resolves by itself within 12 months or so. However, the knee joint may remain uncomfortable for around two to three years until the growth spurt finishes.
Treatment options may include:
• Frequent use of icepacks to reduce the swelling
• Sufficient rest to ease the symptoms. Relative rest is essential, only do as much exercise as it will allow without causing pain. Athletes do not have to stop competing, often a modified training regime is sufficient. Persistent painful activities will only worsen symptoms and prolong recovery
• Stretching and strengthening exercises for the quadriceps, hamstring and calf muscles under the supervision of your physiotherapist
• Very rarely, surgery (but only in extreme cases and only once the growth spurt has ended)
Professional help
If the pain in your knee or child’s knee that you are managing yourself has not improved after a few days it is best to seek medical advice and consult with a physiotherapist or health care provider to get an accurate diagnosis. It is important to ensure that Osgood-Schlatter Disease is the actual diagnosis. Other sources of anterior (frontal) knee pain require different treatment.
A physiotherapist can advise on an appropriate exercise program and suggest the most appropriate treatment plan.
If there are any further questions regarding this topic or areas of interest you would like covered in future editorials please contact either a Jubilee Sports Physiotherapy clinic or email office@jubileesportsphysio.com.au.
This information is provided to Sutherland Shire Football Association by Jubilee Sports Physiotherapy as part of its commitment to Shire football and the SSFA.
My name is Jarrad Corletto and I am a year 12 student from Saint Ignatius’ College in South Australia, and we have to research a specific topic in society today as part of our year’s assessment to achieve a score for entry into University. My chosen topic is based around Osgood-Schlatters Disease, and in particular I would like to ask one of your physio’s a few questions about the disease, and its effects on your patient’s health and lives. Could you please forward this email to your phyisotherapists or supply me their email addresses and i will contact them directly to help me out with my research.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could please take no longer than 15 minutes to complete the following questions: Remember that all answers to questions will be kept anonymous and used for research purposes only.
1. Do you find Osgood-Schlatters Disease to be a common injury for many of your patients?
2. What are some of the main factors for the injury occurring?
3. Do you know of any cases where your patients of Osgood-Schlatters Disease have had to stop and/or modify the amount/type of physical activity they participate in? And for how long?
4. Has the injury been a cause for any physical or health issues later on in your patients’ lives?
5. Later on in your patients’ lives, i.e. in their 20s or 30s, are they still suffering any effects from having had Osgood-Schlatters in their teens?
6. In your opinion, do you believe having Osgood-Schlatters Disease has affected their chance of participating in their favoured sport at an elite level?
Thank you so much for your time, it is greatly appreciated!
Yours sincerely,
Jarrad Corletto, Year 12, Saint Ignatius’ College, Athelstone, SA
Hi Jarrad, information provided here has been supplied by Jubliee Sports Physiotherapy, any further questions regarding this topic or areas of interest please contact Jubilee Sports Physiotherapy clinic email jubileesportsphysio@optusnet.com.au.