Ash Tak, Physiotherapist
Does My Child Have Osgood Schlatter's Disease?
As a parent, you become accustomed to driving your child from one training session to the next.
As soon as you realise, their love of sport has led them to playing various sports or even selection in representative teams.
This means more driving for you and more activity for your child.
With all of this activity, your child comes to you complaining of knee pain.
Concerned about its prevalence at a young age you are unsure how to keep them in sport and enjoy what they love.
This is a challenge we deal with a lot with aspiring athletes and their parents in the clinic everyday.
Let me help you understand why they experience pain and what we can do to help!
WHAT IS OSGOOD-SCHLATTER DISEASE?
Osgood Schlatter's Disease occurs as a result of apophysitis (an irritation / inflammation of a growth plate).
Traction apophysitis injuries are the most common injury within the adolescent population, with 1 out of every 10 adolescents impacted.
Osgood Schlatter's Disease is primarily seen in very active kids with a higher prevalence in girls (4 times greater than boys!).
In Osgood Schlatter's Disease, apophysitis can occur where the tendon from the knee cap (Patellar Tendon) inserts into the top of the shin bone (Tibial Tuberosity).
This is usually the result of traction caused by repetitive activity such as running and jumping.
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WHY DOES MY CHILD HAVE OSGOOD SCHLATTER'S DISEASE IN THEIR KNEE?
As discussed above, Osgood Schlatter's Disease is an overuse injury but there is more to it than just that!
Our bodies are made of various muscles, tendons and bones. When children enter adolescence their muscles, tendons and bones can grow at different rates. This can be a vulnerability for their growth plates.
When your child is exposed to excessive load, this can create increased traction forces within their knee causing inflammation and pain.
HOW DO I KNOW MY CHILD HAS Osgood Schlatter's Disease?
Firstly, any knee pain should be assessed by a health practitioner. Here at Melbourne Sports Physiotherapy, our excellent team is always available to help.
Here a few signs to look for to diagnose Osgood Schlatter's Disease:
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Your child is between the ages of 8 - 16
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Pain is located at the front of the knee
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Pain has come on with no real mechanism of injury
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Pain can come on during or after activity
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A visible bump may be palpable on the top of the shin bone (Tibial Tuberosity)
HOW LONG IS THE RECOVERY FROM OSGOOD SCHLATTER'S DISEASE?
Osgood Schlatter's Disease unfortunately can come with a long duration of symptoms that can last up to 2 years.
Up to 50% of children may not have full resolution of knee pain once growth plates are fully formed. It must be noted that overall pain level was seen to reduce substantially and patients were able to return to sport during this time with effective physiotherapy intervention.
DOES MY CHILD NEED SCANS WITH OSGOOD SCHLATTER'S DISEASE?
Radiological imaging is usually not not required to diagnose Osgood Schlatter's Disease . However, in severe cases your Physiotherapist may request to in order to rule out any stress response or avulsion fractures.
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HOW DO PHYSIOTHERAPISTS TREAT Osgood Schlatter's Disease?
Treatment begins with an appropriate assessment from your Melbourne Sports Physiotherapist including:
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Determining their baseline level of pain
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Determining their current levels of activity
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Assessing range of motion of hip, knee and ankle joints
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Muscle strength testing of lower limb muscles (quadricep, hamstring, calf, hip)
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Performance of functional tasks (squatting, hopping, jumping)
Based on this information, your Physiotherapist can develop an individualised program for your child.
Pain Relief for Osgood Schlatter's Disease:
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Ice therapy: The leg should be rested in an elevated position with an ice pack applied for 20 minutes (Please ensure you do not apply ice directly to the skin to avoid ice burn)
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Gentle stretching of quadricep muscles: Whilst standing, pull your affected leg towards your bottom. You should feel a gentle stretch to the front of your thigh. Hold this position for 20-30 seconds and repeat 3 times.
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Taping / use of brace: Taping / bracing of the tibial tuberosity can provide decreased loading to the patella tendon.
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Modifying / limiting aggravating activities: Ceasing sporting activity can be advised to reduce initial levels of discomfort. However, this may only be for a short period of time before gentle reloading can begin. This is discussed further below.
Activity Limitation for Osgood Schlatter's Disease:
Modification of activity will be the most important piece of information your Physiotherapist will discuss with you for your child to continue participation in their sport. Your child should be able to continue their normal physical activities, to the limit their pain allows.
An example strategy may involve, reducing their total amount of training days or playing less game time in a match.
Exercise for Osgood Schlatter's Disease:
Strengthening of lower limb muscles (quadricep, hamstring and calf) has been shown to be effective in managing Osgood Schlatter's Disease pain in combination with activity limitations.
Strengthening these muscles can ensure reduced impact on their knee structure.
Your local Physiotherapist will develop an individualised program for your child incorporating mobility, strength and balance components to ensure they return to activity safely.
To gain the most effective strengthening benefits, it's best to get baseline measures, then you'll be able to dedicate your child's time to the exercises that most need to impact change for their body.
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LEARN How OUR MELBOURNE SPORTS PHYSIO TEAM can help you?
At Melbourne Sports Physiotherapy our goal is to get you moving pain free as soon as possible.
But, we also want you to actually move better and live a healthier, more active and fulfilling life!
If your sports, fitness training or work has been wearing your body down, book in with one of our expert massage therapists so we can help you reduce your pain or stiffness.
If you are showing some signs of this condition or simply want help prevent this from happening in the future then book in with one of our highly experienced Remedial Massage Therapists today!
You can make an appointment by calling or booking online.
BOOK ONLINE NOW TO FIX YOUR PAIN