Growing Pain in the Knees - What is Osgood-Schlatter Disease?

Osgood-Schlatter Disease

What is OSD?

Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) is a condition most commonly found in children and adolescents, often during puberty, which is characterized by a painful bump just below one or both knees. This condition frequently occurs in children who are active and participate in sports with regular running, jumping, or fast turns such as soccer, basketball and dance, among many others. Pain and discomfort is usually felt while doing the activities mentioned above. However, for some, the pain can be constant and quite debilitating in a child’s everyday life.

What causes OSD?

During activities of running, jumping, and sudden changes in direction, your child’s thigh muscles (known as the quadriceps muscles) are pulling very strongly on the tendon through which they attach to the lower leg – just below the kneecap on what is commonly referred to as the shin bone. Over time and with repetition, this accumulated stress can cause this tendon to pull away slightly from the bone, resulting in pain, swelling, and sometimes the accumulation of new bone tissue that forms the bump mentioned above.

Can physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapy can help reduce the pain and discomfort felt by your child through activity modification, gentle mobilizations of the knee joint, stretching and relaxation of the quadriceps muscles, and proper strengthening of the muscles to reduce any excessive strain on the quadriceps tendon.

If you believe your child has the signs or symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD), you may wish to consult with your doctor or schedule an assessment with one of our physiotherapists who will assess the condition and provide you with effective, hands-on treatment as well as a personalized treatment plan.

Appropriate physiotherapy treatment for OSD can help decrease pain and discomfort, as well as reduce the recovery period necessary for your child to get back to the activities they enjoy the most without fear creating further damage.

Have any questions that are left unanswered? Give us a call at 613-424-7852 or email us at info@bellefleurphysio.com to know more!

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Jason Bellefleur

Jason Bellefleur is a multi-award-winning physiotherapist. Most recently, he was recognized as a 2016 Ottawa Forty Under 40 recipient and received numerous awards from the Orléans Chamber of Commerce (the 2011 Young Business Person of the Year, the 2012 Healthcare Professional of the Year and the 2014 Business Person of the Year awards). Jason is proud to be an Orléans resident and to raise his family in a bilingual community. He enthusiastically promotes local business within the Orléans area and frequently supports and participates in local events. Jason was recognized for his community involvement by receiving the Orleans 150 Community Builder award in 2017 by Ottawa-Orléans MPP Marie-France Lalonde. Jason firmly believes in high-quality one-on-one physiotherapy interventions. His treatment approach emphasizes hands-on intervention, continued client education, and active involvement by the individual to help them reach their full potential. By opening a clinic that offers 'Higher Standards of Care,' Jason wants his patients to feel confident that they receive the highest level of patient care available. As a result, he is also preventing injury and helping to improve their health and well-being.