Teenage Bilateral Knee Pain: More Than Just Growing Pains

“The Doctor Said It’s Osgood Schlatter’s and They Will Grow Out of it”

Osgood Schlatter’s is a condition in the knee that involves “pulling” of the quadriceps tendon at the knee where it inserts on the tibia. It is mostly present in young athletes who are still growing (and thus the growth plate is not sealed and still cartilaginous instead of hard bone). Johns Hopkins has a great informational page on Osgood Schlatter’s if you are interested.

This condition is very common in young male athletes, and I cannot tell you how many times I hear “The doctor said to just let him grow out of it”. While it is true that ultimately the growth plates need to seal in order for this condition to fully resolve itself, this advice suggests there is nothing that can be done in the meantime to manage or mitigate symptoms. Often the pain begins early during play, and suggesting to rest once it hurts can greatly impact sports participation.

Better Solutions Than Just Sitting Out

Often, Osgood Schlatter’s is NOT the sole contributor of pain. There are strong mechanical components which dictate the forces at the quadriceps tendon. Because of this, movement technique can play a role in stressors at the insertion of the tendon into the periosteum of the bone. In other words, it isn’t necessarily the act of jumping or running that dooms you to your pain levels, but the way in which those activities are done. Think back to the first time you ran or played sports (if you can remember!) Did anyone ever teach you exactly how to run, or did you just start running? This is overlooked in most physical education programs, and I believe it can be a key component in managing knee pain (Osgood or not).

Using my portable lab, I have measured adolescent athletes complaining of knee pain and diagnosed with Osgood Schlatter’s during walking, running, cutting, and sport specific movements to observe their kinematics and neuromuscular strategy. This information can provide valuable insight into technique, symmetry, and proper muscle firing patterns — and guide corrective programs that can mitigate stress at the knee. This has implications beyond just knee pain, but also in potentially detecting deficiencies in at-risk movements as a predictor of other knee injuries.

If your son or daughter is experiencing knee pain while playing sports, consider reaching out for a consult and potential kinematic assessment!