Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease (OSD) is a condition affecting adolescents where the area below the knee becomes inflamed. This condition occurs when adolescents are going through growth spurts and consequently pressure is added to the rapidly changing bones and muscles during sport.
OSD is irritation and swelling of the growth plate at the top of the shinbone. Additionally, in OSD there may also be inflammation at the patellar tendon. This condition most commonly occurs during the pubertal growth spurt of children that play sports that require a lot of jumping and/or running.
During growth, bones grow from the ends, rather than the middle, and develop into cartilage before it matures into bone. Cartilage is not as strong as bones are, and the added stress of exercise can cause the growth plate to become painful.
It is caused by the patellar tendon pulling on the growth plate at the shinbone.
During exercise, this movement happens repeatedly causing injury to the growth plate, thus, pain.
Your physiotherapist may also recommend aknee braceor strapping to help relieve pressure on the affected area.
There are several things you can do from home to help relieve the pain of OSD.
They include:
Are you suffering with Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease? Contact Vitalis Physiotherapy now to book in your treatment. Call our friendly team on 0410 559 856. We’d love to help.
