OVERCOMING OSGOOD’S
Part 1: What it is Osgood-Schlatter’s
Disease?
What is Osgood-Schlatter’s
Disease?
“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).”
(www.orthoinfo.aasos.org)
What is Osgood-Schlatter’s
Disease?
“The bones of children and adolescents possess a
special area where the bone is growing called the
growth plate. Growth plates are areas of cartilage
located near the ends of bones.
When a child is fully grown, the growth plates close
and are replaced by solid bone. Until this occurs,
the growth plates are weaker than the nearby
tendons and ligaments and are vulnerable to
trauma.”
(www.orthoinfo.aasos.org)
Case courtesy of Dr Domenico Nicoletti, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 61412
What are the symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter’s
Disease?
Painful symptoms often brought on by running, jumping and
other sports-related activities. The most common symptom is
pain or tenderness in the front of the knee/shin. In some cases,
both knees have symptoms, although one knee may be worse
than the other.
Symptoms may include:
Pain and tenderness around the knee/shinbone
Mild swelling and redness around the knee/shinbone
Limping (may worsen following activities)
Tight muscles in the front or back of the thigh
Symptoms are usually worse during and after activity and
get better with rest
What is the best way to get a diagnosis?
The best way to get a diagnosis is to book an
appointment with your Doctor. During the this, your
child's doctor will:
Discuss your child's symptoms & general health.
Gather information about symptoms.
Examine the knee to determine cause of the pain.
This will include applying pressure to the shinbone,
which will be tender/painful.
The doctor may ask your child to walk, run, jump,
or kneel to see if it brings on painful symptoms.
The doctor may order an X-ray to help confirm the
diagnosis/rule out other problems.
OVERCOMING OSGOOD’S
Part 2: Why does Osgood-Schlatter’s
Disease happen?
Why does Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease happen?
“During the growth spurt of early puberty, the leg bones
sometimes grows faster than the leg muscles and tendons. This
can cause the muscles and tendons to become very tight, making
the knee less flexible. Over time the repeated stresses on the
tendon can cause swelling, tenderness and pain at the knee.”
(www.nhs.org.uk)
Why does Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease happen?
The Growth process is split into 3 phases around Peak Height Velocity (PHV) or the
"Growth Spurt":
1. Pre PHV: <85% of Predicted Adult Height
2. Circa PHV: 85-95% of Predicted Adult Height
3. Post PHV: >95% of Predicted Adult Height
Athlete are at risk of growth plate related issues such as Osgood Schlatter‘s
Disease in Phase 2 or "Circa PHV" between 85-95% of Predicted Adult He in Phase
2 or "Circa PHV" between 85-95% of Predicted Adult Height.ight.
This is why it’s critical to regularly monitor the growth and maturation of young
athletes to highlight periods when an athlete is at risk of growth related issues, so
we can act to reduce the risk.
Why does Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease happen?
Rapid Growth during puberty (PHV)
+
Repetitive Stress of Running, Jumping,
Landing and Changing Direction (Overuse)
=
Osgood Schlatter’s Disease
OVERCOMING OSGOOD’S
Part 3: How do we manage
Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease ?
Can we prevent Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease?
Although Ogood Schlatter’s Disease may not be
entirely preventable due to the growth process, we
can reduce the risk from repetitive overloading
force aggravating the growth plate
Ensure training load is not excessive, a good rule
of thumb is not participating in the primary
sport for more hours than age (eg. 8 hours at 8
years old).
Have 1-2 rest days per week
Avoid sudden increases in training load (added
training sessions/camps).
Strengthen lower body muscles: glutes, quads,
hamstrings, adductors, calves
Improve the mobility of glutes, quads,
adductors, hamstrings and calves
How can we train with Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease?
You can stay active and participate in your sport/training by:
Using the pain scale below to help manage activity levels
Avoid activities causing a 3+ (Sprinting, Jumping, Landing,Changing Direction)
Modify activity during the session to reduce the above activities (Eg. static passing)
If pain reaches a 3/10 during a session, stop participating in the session.
If you suddenly experience worsening of your pain, reduce participation again.
How do we train around Osgood-Schlatter’s
Disease?
We want to continue to train to prevent regression
in our healthy bodyparts and other bodily systems
Because while our injured limb is rehabilitating, the
rest of our body is getting weaker, slower and less
fit! Meaning an increased risk of injury somewhere
else too!
How do we train around Osgood-Schlatters
Disease?
We can train:
Targeted Mobility/Flexibility
Lower impact exercise
Modified Squats/Lunges
Hinging patterns
Upper Body Pushing
Upper Body Pulling
Trunk Bracing/Rotating
Off Feet Cardiovascular work
Why would we want to train the healthy
limb?
2. The Cross Education effect
The cross-education effect is a phenomenon
where training one side of the body results in
increased strength on the OPPOSITE side.
Meaning we can potentially reduce the rate of
strength loss in the injured limb!
OVERCOMING OSGOOD’S
Part 4: A simple mobility routine for
Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease!
Mobility Program
Here is a mobility program which is:
Safe and simple
Takes 8 minutes
Can be completed between 3-7 days/week
Requires minimal equipment
The only requirements is a foam roller which can
be purchased for less than 10 pounds.
Calves
Seated on the ground, place hands
behind you
Cross 1 ankle over the other on top of
the roller
Lift your bottom off the ground and
slowly roll up the calf towards the back
of the knee, hunting for any sore or
tender spots
Slowly return back down the calf
towards the ankle
Continue for 1 minute
Repeat on opposite leg
Lateral Quads/IT Band
Lying on your side, support your
bodyweight on your elbow with
roller just above the knee and top
foot flat on the ground
Slowly roll up the lateral quads
towards the hips, hunting for any
sore or tender spots
Slowly return back down the lateral
quads towards the knee
Continue for 1 minute
Repeat on opposite leg
Adductors
Lying on your front, position the
roller out at 45 degrees and support
your bodyweight on your elbows
with roller just above the knee
Slowly roll up the groin towards the
hips, hunting for any sore or tender
spots
Slowly return back down the groin
towards the knee
Continue for 1 minute
Repeat on opposite leg
Quads
Lying on your front, support your
bodyweight on your elbows with
roller just above the knees
Slowly roll up the quads towards the
hips, hunting for any sore or tender
spots
Slowly return back down the quads
towards the knee
Continue for 1 minute
Glutes
Sitting on the roller, cross one ankle
over the opposite knee
Slowly roll up towards the top of the
hips, hunting for any sore or tender
spots
Slowly return back towards the the
bottom of the hips
Continue for 1 minute
Repeat on opposite leg
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