Guide

Why is Osgood Schlatter a Disease?

Osgood Schlatter Disease. Also known as Osgood, OSD, Osgood Schlatters, growing pains, and plenty more!

Osgood Schlatter Disease. Also known as Osgood, OSD, Osgood Schlatters, growing pains, knee bump, and plenty more! But where did it get the name from?

How to pronounce Osgood Schlatter

The pronunciation of the condition is Oz-Good Sh-Lat-Err”

Formally known as traction apophysitis, Osgood most commonly occurs in children and teenagers between the ages of 10-18 and is usually associated with rapid period of growth. Osgood is typically seen in more active, or sporty kids, although it can affect all children and teens, and Osgood may even affect some adults too.

Osgood pain is incredibly targeted, with almost pin-point localisation under the knee cap on the top of the shin where the patella tendon connects into the tibia bone. This pain is usually made worse by high intensity exercise or being knocked and can sometimes become painful at night time (possibly due to growth occurring during sleep).

Why the name Osgood-Schlatter?

Like many discoveries in the scientific and medical world, the name Osgood Schlatters is born from the scientists who first discovered it. In this case two separate men, on opposite sides of the world.

Osgood Schlatters was actually discovered on two separate occasions, in the same year. Both times were in 1903 and both discoveries were by surgeons.

The first was Dr. Robert Osgood (1873–1956), an American orthopaedic surgeon, and the second Dr. Carl B. Schlatter (1864–1934), a Swiss surgeon. Both discovered and described the injury as occurring in rapidly growing children.

As a result the two have joint naming rights for their work in discovering and describing the disease of patella tendon enthesis irritation, Now known as Patella traction apophysitis, or Osgood Schlatter Disease.

Portrait of Dr Robert Osgood
Dr Osgood - one of the first people to discover Traction apophysitic
Portrait of Dr. Carl Schlatter


Is Osgood Schlatter Disease actually a disease?

While it is most commonly referred to as Osgood Schlatter Disease, it is possibly more accurate to think of Osgood and Severs as a chronic injury and not ain injury. This is because it is often brought about by the combination of rapidly growing bones and high activity levels, which leads to overuse and stress on the patella tendon.

We find thinking of Osgood Schlatter as an injury instead of as a disease can help give young athletes more optimism and a sense that they can take action to help rehabilitate or manage their pain.

Our treatment plan for Osgood approaches the problem like a tendon condition rather than a disease, and as a result we have helped over three thousand young athletes recover from Osgood in just weeks.

Training Programs for Osgood, Severs and stubborn Adult Osgood Cases

Struggling with Osgood or Severs? Growing pains don’t have to keep you out of the activities you love. Beat your pain and get back to sport rapidly in just minutes per day with your proven training programs.
An online program to treat Osgood Schlatters Disease and knee pain. Program includes exercises and stretches for Osgood Schlatters.

Osgood Schlatter Disease

A seven week training plan to manage growing pain in the knees.
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A severs disease treatment training program

Sever's Disease

Rapidly relieve growing pains in the heels caused by Severs
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Adult Osgood Program

Over 18 and still struggling with Osgood? This program is for you!
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Back to Fitness

Designed to build your speed, skill and fitness for return to sport
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