What is it?
In adolescents bones are still maturing.
With repeated overuse of a muscle, the point where the muscles’ tendon attaches onto the bone often becomes inflamed.
In young athletes two common examples of this occur in the knee region, they are Osgood-Schlatter and Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndromes
What do I look for?
- Dull pain at the base of the knee cap or the prominences on shin bone (tibial tubercle), where the tendons attach
- Tightness and/or tenderness in the quadriceps muscle
- Pain with running, squatting, jumping, kneeling and/or kicking
- Often starts gradually over a period of a few weeks and increases over time
- Soreness lasting after activity and is eased with rest
What causes it?
- Sudden growth spurt
- Tightness in the quadriceps muscles
- Overtraining
Although this condition is often self-limiting and will usually improve with rest and with increasing age, over time you may have some additional problems if left untreated
There are a variety of treatments, strapping techniques and appropriate stretches and exercises that can help with and a graded return to training and sport.
When do you see someone for help?
Your Lifecare practitioner will be able to provide an accurate diagnosis and an appropriate management plan. Often this problem can require a sports medicine doctor, physiotherapist, and/or podiatrist to assist.
For more information see your local Lifecare practitioner. Click here to find your closest Lifecare clinic.
