Osgood-Schlatter disease is a common cause of knee pain in young people. It’s a condition in which the bony protrusion below the knee (called the tibial tuberosity or tubercle) becomes inflamed, painful and swollen. It usually affects children and young people between the ages of nine and 14, and is more common in boys than girls. Those who are sporty or very active are especially at risk.

What causes Osgood-Schlatter disease and who can get it?

Osgood-Schlatter disease is basically an ‘overuse’ injury. It affects the upper part of the shinbone, just under the knee. In childhood and adolescence when the bones are immature, they can be pulled by the contraction of the thigh muscles. If a person often takes part in a sport and doesn’t allow the bone to rest it can lead to inflammation of the tibial tuberosity. Sometimes initial inflammation can happen after trauma such as a kick to the tibial tuberosity.

What are the signs and symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease?

The main symptoms are swelling at the tibial tuberosity, just under the kneecap, tenderness and pain in this area after during and after exercise and also pain when contracting the muscles with the leg held straight.

A person doesn’t usually remember a specific injury but will often first start complaining of a dull ache that gets worse during or after sport.

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a temporary condition but can be painful intermittently for months or even years.

How is it normally diagnosed and treated?

Treatment involves rest and avoiding playing sport is advised for at least six weeks. Simple painkillers can help to relieve pain.

Once the symptoms have gone, a child will be given exercises under the supervision of a physiotherapist to help stretch the muscles around the knee and to regain strength in the leg. This usually relieves the symptoms. If the pain returns though, sports activities should be modified (i.e. less intensive sport, different forms of sport, stretching before and after sports).

There are rarely any long-term problems with this condition (except that there may be a permanent lump where the pain was located). Surgery is almost never required.

Can it be prevented?

There are some things that can help prevent this condition developing. Young sports players or athletes are advised to stretch their leg muscles regularly, allow a day or two of rest between each training session to allow the body to recuperate and limit the number of events or games they take part in.

Looking forward

Once established, this problem can be difficult to get rid of during childhood. But it should resolve by the time the bone has fully matured, around the age of 16.

For more help and information

If you would like to know more about Osgood-Schlatter disease, please ask your doctor.

Last reviewed by Great Ormond Street Hospital: January 2007

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