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Introduction

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a condition that causes slowly growing pain and swelling in the growth plate at the top of the shin bone in the lower leg. This area is found slightly below the kneecap.

Growth plates help bones grow into the length and width they will be when your child becomes an adult. They are strong but flexible discs of tissue called cartilage, usually found at the ends of bones. Growth plates are weaker than bone, so they are more at risk of injury as your child grows.

In Osgood-Schlatter disease, the muscles and tendons in the heel can become tight and pull on the growth plate as it slowly grows into adult bone. This causes swelling and pain.

Osgood-Schlatter disease is common in children between the ages of 10 and 14 who are going through puberty and growth spurts.

It is even more common in children who play sports or do activities that involve:

• back and forth movements in the knee
• running
• jumping.

Common sports that can trigger Osgood-Schlatter disease include:

• soccer
• rugby (league, AFL, and union)
• hockey
• basketball
• netball
• tennis
• ballet
• running.

Osgood-Schlatter disease will not happen again after the growth plate has finished growing.

Symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease can happen in one or both knees and generally include:

• pain that slowly gets worse over time rather than starting suddenly
• pain that gets worse when there is pressure on the knee, like when walking upstairs
• swelling and redness
• stiffness 
• limping or other changes to how your child walks.

See your local doctor or physiotherapist as soon as possible if your child starts to develop pain or discomfort during sports and activities, even if it is mild.

Your child's local doctor or physiotherapist will do a physical check if they think there could be Osgood-Schlatter disease. They might ask your child to gently move their knee to see where and how severe the pain is. They will also ask about your child's sports and activities and how regularly they do them.

Scans like X-rays are not needed unless your child's doctor thinks there is another cause of the pain.

Treatment for Osgood-Schlatter's disease will depend on how severe the pain is.

Your child's doctor may recommend:

• taking a break from activities that involve running and jumping until the symptoms get better
• putting an ice-back on the knee for 20 minutes after activity or walking that causes pain to flare up
• seeing a physiotherapist to improve the strength and flexibility of the muscles at the front of the thigh
• checking your child's movement and pain when they go through growth spurts.

Speak to your child's doctor about medications to help with pain or swelling.

With good rest and treatment, your child's pain should slowly go away.