Osgood-Schlatters Disease

What is Osgood Schlatters disease?

Osgood Schlatters disease is a very common cause of knee pain in children and young athletes. It is a condition where the bony protrusion below the knee (called the tibial tuberosity or tubercle) becomes inflamed, painful and swollen.

What are the symptoms of osgood schlatters disease?

Swelling at the tibial tuberosity (or bony bit at the top of the shin) just below the kneecap.
Tenderness and pain on the tibial tuberosity during and after exercise (video).
Pain when contracting the quadriceps against resistance or when contracting the muscles with the leg straight.

What causes Osgood Schlatters disease?

The patella tendon inserts at the tibial tuberosity and through overuse can tug away at the bone causing inflammation. It is seen more often in children involved with running and jumping activities which put a much greater strain on the patella tendon. With repeated trauma New bone grows back during the healing which causes a bony lump which is often felt at the tibial tuberosity. It mainly affects boys aged 10 to 16 years old and will clear up when they stop growing and the tendons become stronger, however, it can rarely persist into adulthood.

Why is it called Osgood Schlatters disease?

It was named after two physicians in 1903, Dr. Robert Osgood and Dr. Carl Schlatter. These Doctors defined the disease.

What can the athlete do if they have osgood schlatters disease?

See a sports injury professional who can make a correct diagnosis to confirm the existance of Osgood Schlatters disease and make sure it is not anything else causing the pain.
Rest. This injury needs rest if it is to heal properly. Only do as much exercise as it will allow without causing pain. Weight bearing exercise will make it worse. Keep your sessions few and high quality rather than train every day.
Apply ice or cold therapy to the knee regularly throughout the day to reduce pain and inflammation and particularly following activity or sport. Ice should be applied at least three times a day for 10 to 15 minutes. Ice massage with an ice cube or a paper / polystyrene cup with water frozen in is a convenient way to apply cold therapy to a specific area such as the patella tendon.
Use a knee support or brace to help reduce the tension on the knee.

A Doctor or Sports Injury Specialist may:

X ray to see exactly how much damage has occurred.
Apply a plaster cast for three weeks if pain is severe.
Prescribe an exercise programme that will allow you to do as much exercise as possible and get the best results from your training.

Are there any strengthening exercises that will help?

No, not really - Rehabilitation is not really what you need with this one but rest is! However a good trainer or coach should be able to manage your training to get the best results from what you are able to do. This might mean concentrating more on technique or other aspects of your sport or game to produce improvements rather than physical conditioning. This is an unfortunate injury that you will grow out of as long as you don't over do it.

What type of knee supports might help?

There are a number of different supports and braces on the market that may help with Osgood Schlatters disease.

A simple neoprene heat retainer / support. This provides compression and support to the knee in general and retains the bodies natural heat. A warm tendon will work much better than a cold one.
A patella tendon strap. This is a strap that wraps around just below the knee.