Knee & Leg
Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Also called: Growing athlete's knee
Irritation of the growth plate where the kneecap tendon anchors to the shin, in growing athletes (roughly 9–15) during sports-heavy seasons and growth spurts. Self-limited — it resolves when growth plates close — but smart load management keeps kids playing through it comfortably.
Common signs
- Pain and a tender (often enlarged) bump below the kneecap
- Worse with running, jumping, kneeling, stairs
- Flares with sport, settles with rest
- One or both knees; often during a growth spurt
Seek help now if
- Night pain, fever, or pain unrelated to activity (evaluate further)
- Sudden inability to extend the knee after a jump (avulsion — image it)
- Redness/heat over the area
Any of these: call 911 or get to an emergency room first. Everything else can wait.
What to do first
- Reassure and plan: this is manageable, not dangerous — full sport removal is rarely required
- Dose activity to keep next-day pain mild; trim the highest-impact volume first
- Ice after sport; begin quad/hip flexibility and strength work
If it's become chronic
- Through the growth years: rolling load management around tournaments and growth spurts
- The bump may remain permanently after resolution — cosmetic, not a problem
- Persistent adult pain at the bump (rare ossicle cases) has options; the vast majority simply resolve
Natural healing options we use
- Manual therapy for quads and hip flexors
- Chiropractic care for hip/pelvis mechanics feeding the knee
- Graded loading and flexibility program
- Adequate calories, protein, calcium, vitamin D for the growing athlete
About imaging
Clinical; X-rays for atypical features or to exclude other causes.
Daily self-care
- Kneepad for kneeling sports/activities
- Quad and hip flexor mobility daily
- Communicate pain honestly to coaches — the dose is the treatment
More in Knee & Leg
Knee OsteoarthritisPatellofemoral Pain SyndromePatellar TendinopathyACL Sprain / TearMCL SprainPCL SprainMeniscus TearIT Band Syndrome
Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.