Osgood-Schlatter Disease Specialist

What is Osgood-Schlatter disease?

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a painful knee condition that usually affects adolescents. The condition causes inflammation below your knee cap, where your patellar tendon attaches to your tibia (shin bone). 

The most common symptom of Osgood-Schlatter disease is knee pain that intensifies during physical activities like running or jumping. Kneeling can also increase your pain, although your discomfort should subside with rest. 

You might also have swelling or a visible lump on the front of your knee. 

What causes Osgood-Schlatter disease?

Osgood-Schlatter disease usually occurs during a growth spurt, when your bones, muscles, and tendons rapidly change. Participating in sports can trigger the condition as the physical stress of training and competing can take a toll on your knees. 

The repeated knee stress of sports can force the patellar tendon to pull on the growth plate of the shinbone, leading to inflammation, swelling, and pain.  

Adolescents are more likely to develop the condition than other age groups, and it’s more common in boys than girls. 

When should I talk to a doctor about Osgood-Schlatter disease?

Make an appointment at Active Rehab Clinics if you have knee pain that interferes with your daily activities. For example, if your knee is severely swollen and painful and it hurts to walk, or you have trouble going up or down stairs, you need medical attention. 

Active Rehab Clinics offers thorough physical exams and uses state-of-the-art diagnostic technology, including Physimax functional movement assessments and Optojump gait analysis. They might also recommend X-rays or MRIs to rule out other injuries or conditions. 

How is Osgood-Schlatter disease treated?

Active Rehab Clinics creates personalized holistic treatment plans to relieve your pain and help you get back to your regular activities. 

Depending on your condition, your provider might recommend that you rest your knee, stretch your quadriceps and hamstrings, and use ice to reduce inflammation. 

Active Rehab Clinics also provides personalized functional medicine, physical therapy, and chiropractic care to restore your joint health and mobility. The practice has private treatment rooms and an aquatic center for shallow and deep water therapy. 

Call Active Rehab Clinics or make an appointment online today if you’re concerned about Osgood-Schlatter disease or have knee pain that interferes with your life.