If there’s one thing a sport-loving teenager hates, it’s not being able to do sport. But that’s often what happens with Osgood Schlatter’s Disease, a painful knee condition that typically strikes in the teen and pre-teen years (around ages 10-14 in girls and 12-16 in boys).
Osgood Schlatter pain starts at the front of one or both knees, usually 10-15 minutes into vigorous exercise. In other words, just as your child is getting stuck into their Parkrun, Saturday football match, or netball session. This may be followed by swelling, and often pain going up and down stairs.
Understandably, it’s also hugely frustrating. How long will this go on? Should your child pull out of team sport? Will they have to stop doing exercise altogether? Here are some thoughts and tips.
What is Osgood Schlatter – and why does it affect teenagers?
Osgood Schlatter is often a “growth-spurt” problem. As children reach puberty, their muscles, tendons and bones grow rapidly. But they grow at different rates: bones first, soft tissues later. This can put pressure on tissues as they stretch over certain areas of the knee. One such area is the tibial tubercle. This bony prominence at the top of the shinbone connects to the kneecap by the patellar tendon. As the tendon pulls on the shinbone, it can irritate the tubercle, causing pain and swelling.
Should your child avoid sport if they have Osgood Schlatter?
Once your child has been diagnosed with Osgood Schlatter – usually by a GP or physio – the next question is: how serious is this, and how should they handle it? The good news about Osgood Schlatter is that, in almost all cases, it resolves when a child stops growing. For girls, that’s around age 14. For boys, around 16 to 18.
Three years may sound like a lifetime to a young teen. But the key message is that, for the vast majority, it will get better – and they shouldn’t necessarily need to give up all sport until it does. In fact, ditching exercise altogether can itself be counterproductive. So it’s more a question of how you manage it, keeping your sport going without increasing the discomfort. How can you do that?
Deploy rest and ice
When Osgood flares up during sport, rest is best. Playing through the pain isn’t a great idea because it risks aggravating the problem and prolonging recovery. Instead, take a break. Consider icing the knee for 10 minutes to reduce swelling. Take care to wrap the ice in a cloth to avoid cold burns. (This article, How to use ice treatment after knee surgery, has some instructions that may be useful.) Your child may find it helpful to take a simple painkiller, such as Calpol or – if they’re able to – ibuprofen, which is an anti-inflammatory.
Adjust the activity
If your teenager is involved in competitive sport, it’s worth asking the coach or team physio for advice. How could your child modify their game? Some young people find that playing in a different position on the field of play can help. For instance, switching from the wing – where explosive shuttle runs are the order of the day – to defence. Or, alternatively, coming off the pitch or court a little earlier. Even, if rules allow, subbing off and then back on again after a rest.
Adjust the sport
If the flare-ups keep happening during high-impact sport, it may be time to adjust the sport itself. By high impact, we mean activities that involve vigorous running and jumping, such as contact sports, athletics and basketball. Instead, consider low-impact alternatives like swimming or cycling. If your child is passionate about their team game, this may not be what they want to hear. But reassure them it’s temporary. They could try the new sport for, say, three months. Then, when the time comes, reassess – and build up gradually.
Consider knee support
Some people find that a supportive sleeve around the knee can ease the symptoms of Osgood during matches. Various kinds are available: tube-type sleeves that stretch over the knee like a half sock; patella straps that sit underneath or around the kneecap; tapes that are applied in a cross over the kneecap. Knee supports provide gentle pressure and a sense of protection to the joint. You can find out more about some of the different types in this blog: The 60-Second Guide to… Knee Braces.
Strengthen the surroundings
Strengthening the muscles that support the knee can help alleviate pressure on the kneecap area. Your child should do this on the recommendation of a doctor or physio. But exercise for Osgood usually focuses on building up strength and flexibility in nearby muscles like the quadriceps, hamstrings and hips. One simple quad-based technique is to lie on the tummy, take hold of a foot and gently bring it upwards until the heel touches the bottom (stopping if it causes discomfort). Again, a physio will be able to recommend the right range of exercises for your child.
The bottom line? Osgood Schlatter is certainly frustrating, but it’s almost always temporary. If your teenager loves sport, this isn’t an end to it. It’s a phase that requires a bit of creative adjustment. And if you need advice and reassurance with that, please get in touch with us any time. Mr Bailey and the team will be glad to help your child find the right programme for addressing the issue – while, hopefully, continuing to do what they love.
