Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a knee condition that causes pain and swelling in the shinbone (tibia) just below the kneecap (patella). This is the spot where the patellar tendon attaches to a bony mound in the knee called the tibial tubercle.

Older children and teenagers often get Osgood-Schlatter disease during a growth spurt. The condition may return while your child is still growing, but it should stop when your child’s growth spurt ends. Osgood-Schlatter disease may leave a painless bump on the bone that remains after the problem has gone away.

Osgood-Schlatter disease is caused by too much stress on the muscles and tendons that support the knee. Repeated stress can cause the tendon to pull away from the shinbone. This can make your child’s knee hurt and swell. Certain activities can also cause this to happen, such as running or sports that involve jumping (like basketball) or quick direction changes (like soccer or football).

Osgood-Schlatter disease usually affects only one knee, but it can sometimes affect both knees. The pain may come and go.

When your child has Osgood-Schlatter disease, they may have:

• Pain and tenderness in front of the knee
• Mild swelling or a bump below the kneecap at the top of the shin
• Pain that gets worse with exercise or activity

Your doctor will ask questions about your child’s past health and do a physical exam to find out if your child’s pain is caused by Osgood-Schlatter disease or some other condition, such as an injury. The doctor will feel and move your child’s knee as part of the physical exam. The doctor will look at the knee and check for tenderness, range of motion and how stable the knee is. The doctor may check both knees even if only one hurts.

X-rays aren’t usually done to diagnose Osgood-Schlatter disease, but they may be done to rule out other causes of knee pain.

Your doctor may advise using ice to reduce swelling and an over-the-counter medicine to relieve pain.

Depending on how much your child’s knee hurts, they may need to take a break from doing sports and other activities that put pressure on the knee. Or your child may need to spend less time doing the activity that causes pain, or do it with less effort. Your doctor may want your child to do some exercises that help keep the leg muscles that support the knee flexible and strong.

When your child has Osgood-Schlatter disease, they may find it hard to do certain activities or sports.

But there are steps your child can take to feel better. Have your child:

• Spend less time doing the activity that causes pain, or have them do it with less effort. Or have your child take a break from activities that cause knee pain. These can include squatting, kneeling, running and jumping. Have your child switch to activities that don’t stress the knee. Swimming and cycling are good activities to do because they put less stress on the knees.
• Put ice or a cold pack on the knee for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Keep a thin cloth between the ice and your child’s skin.
• Prop up the sore knee on a pillow when your child ices it or anytime your child sits or lies down. Keep the knee elevated above the level of your child’s heart. This will help reduce swelling.
• Wear a brace if the doctor suggests it. Follow the directions for its use. Wrap the knee to reduce or prevent swelling.
• Wear knee pads or patellar straps to protect the knees during sports or other impact activities.

Ask your doctor if your child can take an over-the-counter medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve pain. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.

As the knee pain starts to go away, your doctor may have your child start doing exercises. These exercises will help stretch and strengthen the leg muscles that support the knee. Your doctor or a physical therapist will tell you when your child can start these exercises and which ones may work best for your child. Be sure your child does each exercise slowly and eases off the exercise if they start to feel pain.

Stretching can loosen tight muscles and connective tissue that support the knee. Stretching before and after a physical activity can help keep your child’s leg muscles flexible. Two stretches that may help are quadriceps and hamstring stretches. Strengthening the thigh muscles (quadriceps) can help keep the knee stable.