Osgood Schlatter’s Disease

Osgood-schlatters disease (OSD) is a self-limiting condition typically seen in older children and adolescents that are active and play sports. It affects boys more than girls and is a common cause of anterior knee pain. It can affect one or both knees. 

It is an overuse condition where the patella tendon that runs across the front of the knee and attaches below the knee becomes inflamed. Symptoms include a painful lump below the knee, knee pain during activity or after activity which is usually exacerbated by running and jumping sports. Pain is relieved with rest. 

Osgood-Schlatter’s disease can be diagnosed by a Physiotherapist and a treatment program can be made tailored to the individual. Treatment is focused on reduced swelling, pain, modifying activity and building tolerance and resilience in the muscle tissue.

Treatment: 

• Managing loads or modifying activity 
  • Reducing the amount of activity your child is doing can help to manage pain and inflammation. Children are encouraged to continue with sports, however in the initial stages may respond well to reducing the amount of running or jumping they are doing. Thankfully, unlike in the past, it is not recommended for your child to give up sports completely!
• Massage of quadriceps 
  • This can help to reduce the tightness in your child’s quadricep which reduces the amount of tension where the quadriceps inserts to the bottom of the knee
• Taping 
  • Your Physiotherapist will be able to show your child how to tape their knee to reduce the amount of pressure on the patella tendon and manage symptoms. This allows your child to continue participating in sport without so much pain!
• Strengthening exercises 
  • Dependent on the assessment, strengthening exercises can be prescribed for hip and leg muscles to better tolerate loads and stress from physical activity. 
• Anti-inflammatory medications and ice may also assist with swelling and pain. However, use of medications should be discussed with your GP 

OSG improves over time and symptoms usually resolve when the individual stops growing. If your child is experiencing pain at the front of the knee it may be worth checking in with one of our experienced Physiotherapists to source the cause of the pain and implement an appropriate management program! 

Corbi, F., Matas, S., Álvarez-Herms, J., Sitko, S., Baiget, E., Reverter-Masia, J., & López-Laval, I. (2022). Osgood-Schlatter Disease: Appearance, Diagnosis and Treatment: A Narrative Review. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 10(6), 1011. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10061011

Victorian Paediatric Orthopaedic Network (2012). Osgood-Schlatter Disease. Retrieved from https://content.health.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/files/collections/policies-and-guidelines/o/osgood-schlatter-vpon—pdf.pdf

Women’s and Children’s Health Network (2020). Osgood-Schlatter Condition of the knee [image]. Retrieved from https://cdn.wchn.sa.gov.au/downloads/WCH/children/orthopaedics/Osgood-Schlatter-Fact-Sheet.pdf