Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease is an irritation and inflammation of the tibial tubercle which is the bony part at the front of the shin (just below the knee cap) where the thigh muscle (quadriceps) attaches to the shin bone. It presents as pain at the top/front of the shin, just below the knee cap. Osgood-Schlatter’s is common in active kids and teens and is commonly seen in girls around the ages of 10-12 and in boys around 12-14 years. Osgood-Schlatter’s occurs when there is a repeated, excessive traction force (pulling) from the quadriceps muscle on the tibial tubercle which is not yet fully fused in this age bracket. These excessive traction forces can come about due to rapid growth spurts, frequent or high demand sports participation (particularly in sports that involve a lot of running or jumping), tightness in the quadriceps muscles or a combination of these factors. 

Management of Osgood-Schlatter’s involves unloading the tibial tubercle so that it can cope with the loads placed upon it. This usually involves activity modification, lengthening techniques for the thigh muscle, strengthening exercises for the supporting muscles and may involve taping or bracing to protect or unload the tibial tubercle during activity whilst rehab is underway. Physiotherapy is an effective management strategy for Osgood-Schlatter Disease, allowing kids and teens to maintain their physical activity whilst managing this condition.