Osgood Schlatter Disease

Osgood Schlatter Disease describes a condition that typically occurs in adolescents and is a common cause of pain at the front of the knee. It usually occurs in very active adolescents who engage in activities such as jumping, sprinting and change of direction on a regular basis. It often occurs at the
same time as a growth spurt.

Signs and symptoms:

• Pain at the front of the knee
• Swelling under the kneecap.
• Pain that worsens during running/jumping.
• Limping after physical activity
• Pain that gradually worsens.

What can I do to manage this?

It is important to first seek an accurate diagnosis from a chartered physiotherapist. OSD can be of varying severity so each case will be treated differently. The most common methods used to manage this condition are as below:

• Treatment should begin with rest, ice and sometimes anti inflammatories.
• Limiting the aggravating activity.
• Gentle strengthening programme that gradually loads up the patellar tendon.
• Shockwave therapy has been shown to have good effect in OSD.