10–15 years · Recovery 8–12 weeks with progressive loading
Osgood–Schlatter Disease
Osgood–Schlatter is an overuse condition where the patellar tendon repeatedly pulls on the tibial tuberosity, the growth plate at the top of the shin. It is most common in adolescents going through growth spurts who play jumping or kicking sports.
Common symptoms
- Pain and swelling below the kneecap
- A visible bump on the shin
- Pain with squatting, kneeling or running
- Symptoms ease with rest, return with sport
What causes it
- Adolescent growth spurts
- Tight quadriceps and hamstrings
- Repetitive jumping, sprinting and kicking
- Training volume above recovery capacity
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More on Osgood–Schlatter Disease
Evidence-informed articles for parents and coaches on this condition, growth-related injury and youth athletic development.
Why Do Growth-Related Injuries Happen?
Growth-related injuries are not bad luck. They are the predictable result of demand outrunning capacity at a specific point in development.
ReadHow Growth Spurts Affect Strength, Speed and Sports Performance
A growth spurt temporarily scrambles coordination and can flatten performance for months - then hands back a bigger, more powerful athlete if training is handled well.
ReadCan You Prevent Growth-Related Injuries in Young Athletes?
You cannot prevent growth. You can meaningfully change the odds, and the things that work are simpler and cheaper than most parents expect.
ReadAdolescent Knee Pain: Red Flags That Need Assessment
Most adolescent knee pain is load-related and self-limiting. A short list of features should prompt clinical assessment instead.
ReadHow Much Sleep Do Children and Teenagers Need for Sports Recovery?
Most teenage athletes get well under the recommended amount, and the association between short sleep and injury in this group is one of the more consistent findings in youth sport research.
ReadGrowing Pains or a Sports Injury? How to Tell the Difference
True growing pains and sport-related growth plate injuries look nothing alike once you know what to compare, and the distinction changes what you should do.
ReadOther programmes