Ask Deb: Do I Have Osgood-Schlatter?
November 14, 2017

A few months ago, both my knees started hurting after I would exercise. Now, the pain occurs at the bottom of my kneecap and is the worst when I lock my knees. I’ve been doing a little research, and I was wondering if this could be Osgood-Schlatter disease. If it is, do you have any tips to help my knee pain?


In a nutshell, Osgood-Schlatter is a growth challenge, when bone grows faster than muscle, and the pull of the quadriceps tendon causes the bone to inflame and enlarge. This can happen during growth spurts or when participating in activities that exacerbate the condition, such as jumping and running. Stopping such activities is advised until the muscles and tendons have time to catch up with the growth of the bone.

Gentle and consistent stretching of the quadriceps and hip flexor muscles is key during this period. You don’t necessarily need to stop all dancing—just modify to stop the progression of this condition.

To your success,

Deborah Vogel

Director, The Body Series

Got a question for Deb? E-mail [email protected], and she may answer it in an upcoming web exclusive.

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