Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Osgood-Schlatter Disease
What causes Osgood-Schlatter
Osgood-Schlatter disease is caused by irritation of the bone growth plate. Bones do not grow in the middle, but at the ends near the joint, in an area called the growth plate. While a child is still growing, these areas of growth are made of cartilage instead of bone. The cartilage is never as strong as the bone, so high levels of stress the tendon attaches onto can cause the growth plate to begin to hurt and swell.
Activities that put stress on the knee—especially squatting, playing football bending or running uphill (or stadium steps)—cause the tissue around the growth plate to hurt and swell. It also hurts to hit or bump the tender area. Kneeling can be very painful.
Who is most likely effected by Osgood-Schlatter?
Should you worry?
The short answer is: No. Osgood Schlatters is a self- limiting condition – meaning you can continue with activity as long as pain allows. Managing it this way will not cause the condition to worsen or cause any potential damage to occur.
What you can do to manage symptoms
- If the pain is severe, try to avoid high impact sports that involve running and jumping.
- Try low impact activities instead, such as cycling and swimming, to strengthen
- the muscles and maintain cardiovascular fitness.
- Rest/ stop exercise entirely if the swelling and pain get too much.
- Once the pain has stopped, it is important to gradually build up participation in
- activities and sport.
- Strategies such as taking short breaks whilst playing team sports allows time for
- pain to settle.
- Ice and elevation:
- Ice the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes especially after activity and make sure
- the skin is protected by wrapping the ice in a towel.
- Elevating the leg after sports if it is painful and swollen can be beneficial.
- Lower limb stretches.
How Swiss Physio can help you.
Education and management of growth related conditions is really effective in maintaining the child’s sporting activity whilst not aggravating the condition too much.
As well as guiding you through this, the following interventions can also help improve symptoms or manage symptoms more effectively and allow them to continue with their high activity levels:
- Strapping and taping
- Eccentrics exercise/strength program
- Soft tissue release/massage
- Shockwave therapy
- Core and functional movement assessment and rehabilitation programs
Less commonly, children can present with Sinding-Larsen-Johansson Syndrome. Thisis similar in presentation to Osgood Schlatter’s but the site of inflammation is the site of insertion of the patella tendon on the inferior pole (Lower point) of the patella.