Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome is in essence, a sports-related overuse knee injury in adolescents that causes knee pain. It can be extremely painful and debilitating, often causing them to stop playing sport, and can even affect their everyday life activities such as walking to school, climbing stairs and even sitting down from standing. No active child wants to stop playing and participating in their sports which can lead to further pain and frustration, therefore it is important to know the signs and symptoms and what treatment is available.
What is Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome?
Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome occurs when there is a pulling away of the patella tendon from its bony attachment on the tibial tubercle with the prominence at the top and front of the tibia (shin bone). The bone area is still soft as it is also the site of a child’s growth plate, and cartilage is in the process of slowly turning into bone as the child grows through their puberty stage. It often occurs during a growth spurt and is associated with physical activity. It is thought that the patella tendon attaching the quadriceps muscles to the tibia becomes tight and causes inflammation and micro-fractures in the tibial tuberosity. The tibial tuberosity swells and feels painful during certain activities such as running, kneeling, or stair climbing.
Signs / Symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome?
The symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome depend on the severity of the condition, but may include:
• pain in one or both knees
• pain when straightening the knee joint or full squatting
• pain on running, or going up and down stairs
• pain that eases with rest
• a swollen tibial tuberosity
• red and inflamed skin over the tibial tuberosity
• quadriceps muscles that can sometimes lose strength and bulk.
Causes of Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome:
Some of the causes of Osgood-Schlatter syndrome may include:
• Growth spurt – the condition tends to affect adolescent children. Affected boys are often aged about 13 to 14 years, while affected girls are often aged 10 to11 years.
• Exercise – adolescent children that participate in sports that rely on powerful contractions of the quadriceps muscle and that accentuate kicking, sprinting, jumping and swift changes of direction have a higher incidence of Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome. These sports include football/soccer, netball, tennis, basketball,� gymnastics, figure skating and ballet.
• Gender – boys are more susceptible than girls, but perhaps this is because boys typically play more vigorous sports.
• Injury – around half of all children with the condition report a prior knee injury.
Treatment options:
Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome usually resolves by itself within 12 months. However, the knee may remain uncomfortable until growing finishes.
Treatment options include:
• Activity modification or relative rest – completely avoiding activities that are painful for at least a couple of weeks followed by gradual return to activity guided by symptom levels.
• Frequent use of icepacks to reduce the local pain and swelling.
• Stretching and strengthening exercises for the quadriceps, hamstring and calf muscles – a suitable program can be provided by a physiotherapist.
• Very rarely, surgery – only in extreme cases and only once growth has ended.
If you have any concerns regarding your child’s knee pain, or any concerns in general regarding how your child is growing book in an appointment with our Paediatric Physiotherapist Natasha, by calling our team on 3491 6533.
