Knee Pain & Osgood Schlatters Syndrome in sporty teenagers

By Ethan Farr, Sports Myotherapist & Exercise Scientist

Does your teenager get pain below the knee cap at the top of the shin bone?
Do they seem to be taking longer to recover from sports events at school, or even need a sick day after a big physical effort like playing a game of footy or running cross country?
And if they take a knock to the knee, are they in extreme agony?
This could be from a condition called Osgood Schlatters, and its really common in teenagers, especially if they are involved in sports.

What is Osgood Schlatters? 
Osgood Schlatters is a common joint condition that affects the knees, especially in adolescents who are going through growth spurts.
It's characterised by pain, swelling, and tenderness just below the kneecap, where the patellar tendon (the tendon that attaches the quadriceps to the tibia) attaches to the shinbone.
Males are more commonly diagnosed with Osgood Schlatters however, it can affect both males and females at different ages. Typical age ranges for teen boys are between 12-15, and in young girls between 8-12.
Osgood’s is also more common directly after a growth spurt and for those who do repetitive movements like jumping and sprinting which pretty much covers all youth sports. 

What does Osgood Schlatter look like and how can you help your children?
Front knee pain with or without swelling, is the leading symptom in this condition and it aggravates during physical activities such as running, jumping, cycling, kneeling, walking up and down the stairs and kicking a ball.
Other things that can help identify Osgood Schlatter’s is pain on touching/palpating below the kneecap on the shinbone, in some cases there can be a bony protuberance or swelling or bony projection in the shin, and quadricep tightness is another symptom for the condition.

Now how can you help - knowledge is power, as a parent you can track whether your child is in continuous/increased pain after physical activity and if they’ve had a growth spurt recently.
If this is the case, pain management is the aim of the game. This can look like slightly reducing participation in sport and icing the knee immediately after sports to help control swelling and pain. Making sure your teenager stretches their quads well in a pre-game or pre-activity warm up will also help to reduce strain on the patellar tendon - we know a lot of kids don't love to warm up thoroughly, but this is really essential to reducing their ongoing pain.

Another thing you can do as a parent is book in with one of our Myotherapists for help.
We can help reduce swelling and pain in the knee through massage and manual therapy  techniques, including more advanced techniques if your teen is comfortable with options like cupping and myofascial dry needling.
We can also tape the knee in a way that supports the growing joint and strained tendons, to provide protection and support. Taping decreases loading on the patella tendon reducing pain after physical activity.
We can teach stretches for the quadriceps and hamstrings for pre and post sport, we can give exercises to strengthen the vastus medialis oblique (a muscle in the quadriceps group)  which has been shown in studies to reduce knee pain.

Understanding Osgood Schlatters is crucial for parents of active adolescents with knee pain.
Recognising the symptoms—such as knee pain exacerbated by physical activities—and knowing when to seek help are key steps in managing this condition.
Our Myotherapists offer effective strategies like taping techniques, targeted stretches, strengthening exercises, and therapeutic interventions that can alleviate pain and support the child's recovery.
Taking proactive steps like these can make a significant difference in managing Osgood Schlatters and ensuring that young athletes can continue to enjoy their sports safely and comfortably.

If you think your child could possibly be suffering from Osgood Schlatters please get in contact with us or make a booking with us so that we can help support you and your child getting back to doing what they love and being pain free today.

Simple Wellness Myotherapy is located at Shop 12B/150 Kelletts Rd, Rowville VIC 3178 or you can call us on (03) 8204 0970.