Has your child been complaining about pain in the front of their knee?
Have you noticed a lump on the front of their shin just below their knee cap? Did someone mention a long, complicated name with the word disease in it and you started stressing out?
Osgood Schlatter Disease, despite the word disease, is actually a musculoskeletal condition that presents as pain below the kneecap without trauma to the knee in children and teenagers. The condition is believed to develop from repetitive stress from the patellar tendon (the tendon that joint the kneecap and the shin bone) on the Tibial tubercle where it inserts. The strong force of the patellar tendon acting on the tibial tubercle results in irritation and pain. This tension can increase the size and tenderness of the bone, and in severe cases that are left untreated, the bone can become partly detached. The onset of Osgood Schlatter disease is usually gradual and not a result of trauma.
Osgood Schlatter disease can present in both knees, but this is only in 20 – 30% of patients. Typically, it will start as a dull ache and will increase with increased duration and or frequency of activity. The pain will subside minutes to hours after ceasing the irritating activity but returning to the activity without proper treatment will reaggravate the knee. The more frequent the activity, or the shorter the period of rest between activities, the worse the symptoms will get.
Osgood Schlatter disease is more commonly seen in male adolescents.
The onset of Osgood Schlatter disease typically coincides with when youth athletes undergo a growth spurt (males between 10 to 15 years old, females 8 to 13 years old). Youth athletes participating in sports that involve repetitive jumping and sprinting are more likely to develop this condition. Sports such as basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, soccer, and rugby are just a few examples.
Core components of rehabilitation includes management of the type and intensity of activity, offloading the knee, and appropriate strengthening exercises. Early intervention under the guidance of an experienced physiotherapist can help young athletes return to their sport faster and more safely! Please do not hesitate in getting in contact with us today if your child or you know of any adolescent athlete that may be suffering from Osgood Schlatter disease!
Smith JM, Varacallo M. Osgood Schlatter Disease. [Updated 2022 Feb 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441995/
