Osgood-Schlatter disease is a condition most commonly found in growing adolescents as a result of inflammation of the patellar tendon in the knee. It most commonly affects children going through a growth spurt, with onset usually between the ages of 11 and 12 in girls, and 13-14 in boys. Simply put the problem is that the long bones are growing faster than the muscle can keep up with. The pain is located just below the patella (knne cap) where the quadriceps attach to the tibia(shin bone).

When the quadriceps muscles contract, they pull on the patellar tendon at its point of attachment to the tibia, which, in a child, is a growth plate which equals pain. Sporting activities that require jumping, cutting or pivoting can create pain for those with this condition.

It is a pain limiting condition but can be aided with an Osgood Schlatter’s knee orthosis.

Orthosis Function:

An Osgood Schlatters knee orthosis applies a pressure at a point between the patella (knee cap) and the tibial tubercle (shin bone attachment) which is just below the patella. This compressive strap is similar to having 2 people at the end of a rope pulling in opposite directions. Person A is pull too hard on person B and person B now has painful hands, in come person C who grabs a hold of the rope just in front of person B and this reduces person B’s hand hold needs.