Osgood-Schlatter disease is a common cause of knee pain in growing adolescents. It is an inflammation of the area just below the knee where the tendon from the kneecap (patellar tendon) attaches to the shinbone (tibia).
Osgood-Schlatter disease most often occurs during growth spurts, when bones, muscles, tendons, and other structures are changing rapidly. Because physical activity puts additional stress on bones and muscles, children who participate in athletics — especially running and jumping sports — are at an increased risk for this condition. However, less active adolescents may also experience this problem.
What causes Osgood-Schlatter Disease?
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 can cause the growth plate to begin to hurt and swell.
Physical Therapy for Osgood-Schlatter Disease?
A physical therapist will work with the patient to first ease symptoms.
When pain is under control, therapy shifts focus to flexibility, strength and proprioceptive exercises for all leg muscles. Tight hamstrings and quadriceps often put an athlete at risk for injuries, so maintaining flexibility is important.
- Strengthening muscles of the lower leg and core helps make sure there is good muscle balance in the knee, hip, ankle and core.
- Balance exercises teach a person to be aware of where the body is in space and to get different leg muscles to work together.
- Postural education and exercises may be used to address abnormal alignment of the leg. Sometimes, orthotics (shoe inserts) are needed to help correct flat footedness and knock-kneed positions.
Once symptoms have decreased and strength, flexibility and balance have improved, the therapy may focus on sport-specific activities and movement patterns. The goal is to help improve form and reduce knee strain during sports.
HOW CAN PHYSIO HELP?
Osgood Schlatter Disease is something we treat everyday at Ferry Rd Physio and we often use the following:
– manual therapy, joint mobilisations, soft tissue massage, dry needling and acupuncture for symptom relief
– education on the cause of your symptoms as well as a treatment plan and
– exercise prescription to help with mobility, strength and neural tension
– strength and conditioning to help for the long term, not a short term ‘band-aid’ approach.
If symptoms persist or are severe, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation and management. In rare cases, if conservative treatments do not provide relief, surgical intervention may be considered, but this is usually not necessary.
Contact us or book online today to get your knee pain back under control!
J. Press
Physiotherapist