Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osgood-Schlatter Disease (OSD) is an overuse injury at the tibial tuberosity. This is the attachment site for the patellar tendon. In a growing athlete, this attachment site is a biomechanical weak point. When demands exceed the body's ability to adapt, stress and tension increase causing micro trauma and inflammation at this attachment site. OSD is common in growing athletes who participate in soccer, gymnastics, basketball, running or track. 

Individuals often present with increasing pain directly over the attachment site despite no traumatic injury. Symptoms are made worse with exercise. Contact and pressing on the attachment site is often painful. Any activity that requires hard contraction of the quadriceps is also painful. 

The first step in treatment of OSD is the reduction of activity that creates the inflammation and substituting cross training to maintain fitness levels. Various soft tissue techniques are used to address tightness in hips, thighs and the lower leg. Exercises are used to address faulty mechanics, and correct weaknesses. Foot orthotics can be used to correct faulty foot biomechanics, if present. Return to activity requires a progression of increasing forces to be followed. 

If you have an issue that you would like some guidance with, give us a call at (616) 301-1702.