07 Apr Been told that your child has Osgoo what now!?

Been told that your child has Osgoo what now!?
Yes, its a funny name. But Osgood Schlatter Disease is one of the most common causes of knee pain in adolescent athletes. The growth plates in adolescent bones are not yet fused. Osgood Schlatter Disease is the inflammation of the growth plate in the shin bone called the Tibial Tubercle.

The two key factors that causes Osgood Schlatter are 1. High Intensity, High Impact sports, and 2. sudden growth spurts.

When a child is active and running, the quadriceps muscle pull on the patellar tendon which in turn, pulls on the tibial tubercle. High intensity training in running and jumping sports places more pull on the tibial tubercle. In some children, this repetitive pull on the tibial tubercle leads to inflammation of the growth plate.
During a growth spurt, leg bones lengthens faster than the quadriceps muscle and patella tendon. As a result, the quadriceps muscle and patella tendon become very tight, adding more pull on the tibial tubercle. This leads to more inflammation of the growth plate. Over time, the tibial tubercle bone becomes a bony bump. Once a bony bump develops, it is permanent and can affect the flexibility of the knee joint.

Osgood Schlatter Disease usually affects children aged between 9 and 15 years old and presents as:
– Pain at the front of the knee worsening with sport or activity
– Limping after exercise
– Front area of the knee is usually tender to touch and swollen

Fortunately, Osgood Schlatter Disease can be effectively treated with Physiotherapy. Here at My Favourite Physio, our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists, get great outcomes with Osgood Schlatter Disease. Early intervention can prevent the permanent deformity of the tibial tubercle, reduce knee pain and allow your child an early return to peak performance sports.

If your child has been experiencing knee pain when they play sports, take advantage of the current break from competitive sports to have their knee pain properly assessed and treated. Ring My Favourite Physio on (02) 9790 4233 to find out how our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists can help your child overcome their knee pain.