Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Good news: Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) is far less frightful than its name. Though it's one of the most common causes of knee pain in adolescents, it's really not a disease, but an bone, cartilage, and/or tendon at the top of the shinbone (tibia), where the tendon from the kneecap (patella) attaches. Most often only one knee is affected. OSD usually strikes active adolescents around the beginning of their growth spurts, the approximately 2-year period during which they grow most rapidly. Growth spurts can begin any time between the ages of 8 and 13 for girls, or 10 and 15 for boys. OSD has been more common in boys, but as more girls participate in sports, this pattern is changing.

Teens increase their risk for OSD if they play sports involving running, twisting, and jumping, such as basketball, football, volleyball, soccer, tennis, figure skating, and gymnastics. Doctors disagree about the mechanics that cause the injury but agree that overuse and physical stress are involved.

physical therapy to learn stretching and strengthening exercises.

Long-term consequences of OSD are usually minor. Some kids may have a permanent, painless bump below the knee. In rare cases, they may develop a painful, bony growth below the kneecap that must be surgically removed. About 60% of adults who had OSD as kids experience some pain with kneeling.

Sports Safety

Sports and exercise offer many benefits, but also the risk of injury. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, sports activities are the second most frequent cause of injury for both male and female adolescents.

Although OSD cannot be prevented, its impact can be minimized by following sports safety guidelines:

• Parents and coaches must teach young athletes to protect their bodies as their skills develop.
• Trained coaches should supervise sports programs.
• Kids should warm up and stretch for 15 to 30 minutes before and after activities.
• Injured children should never be encouraged to "play through the pain."
• Always remember that sports exist for the emotional and physical good of the kids, not the team or interested adults.

Reviewed by: