What is Osgood-Schlatters
Osgood-schlatters is a condition where the boney protrusion just below the knee also known as the tibial tubercle becomes painfully enlarged. As the quadriceps tendon passes over the knee cap it attaches to the tibial tubercle. In young athletes the tibial tubercle is located on a growth plate. When young athletes do repetitive cutting and jumping movements the strong tendon pulls on the weak bone causing little pieces of the bone to break off. Because the bone does not break away completely, it tries to heal its self by adding more bone, therefore making the tubercle larger. The painful affects of this injury usually subside when the athlete reaches the age of 18-20, because the growth plates fuse and the bone surrounding the area becomes stronger.
Who does it affect?
This injury commonly affects skeletally immature athletes that are involved in running and jumping activities. Basketball and track are some common sports associated with Osgood-Schlatters. Basketball players place great strain on their knees through cutting motions to fake out other players as well as jumping motions to shoot and lay up the ball. Track athletes are also susceptible to this injury due to the amount of running they do as well as some of the field events they participate in. Osgood-Schlatters is not only found in these two sports. Any young adolescent person or athlete can be susceptible to this injury.
How to manage the pain
Athletes should decrease activity; this type of injury needs rest to heal. If rest is not feasible during the season, there are other options to relieve the pain and pressure from the injury site while still participating. During activity a patellar tendon strap can be used. The strap acts as a lever moving the pressure off the tibial tubercle to a higher location. After activity the athlete should apply ice to the affected area. Ice massage, using a small frozen cup of water, can be applied after activity as well. To help reduce pain and swelling non steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine such as Ibuprofen can be taken. One of the most important things that the athlete can do to help decrease the severity of this injury, or prevent it before it occurs, is to stretch the quadriceps. Often, athletes only stretch their hamstrings and forget about their quads. The more flexible the athlete can get their quads the less strain will be applied to the injury site.
Prentice, W. E. (2003) Arnheim’s principles of athletic training a competency-based approach. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Companies INC.
Sports Injury Clinic (2008) Osgood-shlatters disease. Retrieved February 11, 2008, From http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/osgood.htm |
