Osgood Schlatters

QUESTION: My 13-year old son had to quit playing basketball this winter because of pain in his knees. His pediatrician called it "Osgood-Schlatter’s disease." When can he resume sports?

ANSWER: Osgood-Schlatter’s disease is an irritation of the insertion of the patellar tendon. It produces pain and swelling in the front of the knee just below the kneecap. The pain increases with running, jumping, or climbing steps. It tends to occur between ages 11 and 15 in active sports participants. About 20% of all adolescent athletes will get Osgood-Schlatter’s disease, but only about 5% of couch potatoes.

Usually, the pain resolves with activity restriction. Ice, ibuprofen, and stretching exercises for the quadriceps muscles and hamstrings can help. Occasionally, sports participation must be suspended for a month or two. Only very rarely do symptoms persist after growth is completed.

Your child may return to sports when his discomfort is tolerable and his muscles have been stretched.

WRITTEN BY:  William M. Mirenda, Jr., M. D.