Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease is one of the most common causes of knee pain in children and adolescents. It often occurs in people who play sports that involve a lot of jumping and bending such as football or ballet.

Rachel Miller is a highly experienced podiatrist who treats many children and adolescents with Osgood-Schlatter disease. Please see below if you want more detailed explanation of Osgood-Schlatter disease, its symptoms, causes and treatment.

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Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a swelling and irritation of the growth plate at the top of the shinbone.  A growth plate is an area of growing tissue near the end of long bones in children.  Each bone has at least 2 growth plates, one at each end, and because they are weaker than the nearby ligaments and tendons that connect bones to other bones and muscles they can be vulnerable to injury. At some time during adolescence the growth plates close and are replaced by solid bone.

Symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease can be in one or both knees and symptoms can include:

  • pain below the kneecap
  • redness and warmth below the kneecap
  • swelling at the top of the shinbone
  • pain can be worse running, jumping
  • pain worse walking up stairs
  • often worse activity, better rest

Causes of Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease  frequently occurs in children who participate in sports and activities that involve swift changes of direction.  It is often called an overuse injury.

The thigh muscle, quadriceps, pull excessively on the tendon that runs from the patella, the kneecap, to the tibial tuberosity, the bony protrusion below the kneecap.  This causes a repetitive injury to the growth plate which cannot recover between injuries which can result in pain and swelling. The condition is typically found in children of 10 – 14 years of age.

Treatment of Osgood-Schlatter Disease

It your child has pain around their kneecap that interferes with their activities then a comprehensive biomechanical assessment can help diagnose their condition. It may be necessary for your child to stop a sport for a period of time if pain interferes with their ability to continue.

Initial treatment for Osgood-Schlatter disease can include P.R.I.C.E – Protect; Rest; Ice; Compression; Elevation

Diagnosis from an experienced podiatrist can help identify Osgood-Schlatter disease and give an appropriate treatment plan.

Treatments may include:

  • tailored advice for stretching and strengthening exercises
  • suggestions for suitable footwear
  • kneepads
  • an orthotic insole

A bespoke orthotic insole can be prescribed which may help aid healing during rehabilitation, reduce pain and facilitate normal function.

Call the Clinic for an appointment

Rachel Miller is a very experienced podiatrist who sees many children for a wide variety of conditions at her north London clinic Highgate Podiatry in Highgate Village, 14 Pond Square, N6 6BA, London.  Clinics are held every Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. Please contact the clinic for an appointment on 020 8348 5553. For the clinic’s address, map and directions see the Contact page and for information about orthotic insoles and biomechanics see the Biomechanics page.

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