Osgood Schlatter Syndrome is as painful as it is common. It is characterized by a painful, swollen, knot, an inch or so below the knee cap. This knot is typically extremely hyper-sensitive and is aggravated by physical activity or getting the knot hit or bumped. Notice the large Tibial Tubercle in the photographs below.
Photo by D3aj86.
Photo by James Heilman, MD.
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Osgood Schlatters is found mostly in adolescents or teens that have either played organized youth sports, or have undergone a major growth spurt, and is frequently associated with microscopic FASCIAL ADHESIONS in the muscles of the front thigh (quadriceps muscle).
Typically, these adhesions occur because of overuse and abuse, and/or muscle imbalance — the front thigh muscles (Quadriceps) are naturally much stronger than the muscles on the back of the thigh(Hamstrings) —- and sports tend to magnify this imbalance. Many young people end up quitting sports because of the pain involved with Osgood Schlatter’s Syndrome and the inability of traditional therapies to solve the problem. There are three main reasons that standard medical approaches often fail.
- Treatment is based on prescription: Not only are muscle-relaxers, anti-inflammatories, and cortico-steroids, ineffective for Osgood Schlatter Syndrome, but they can be dangerous as well. The truth is, doctors are using a treatment model that is based on “itis” (inflammation) instead of “osis” (tissue derangement). It is a model that was scientifically outdated over 20 years ago (HERE)! Anti-inflammatory drugs of all kinds degenerate collagen-based connective tissues, and lead to kidney, liver, and heart failure with prolonged use. Remember the old slogan, “Tylenol… Nothing Safer“? They lied.
- Treatment is often aimed at the wrong area: Treatment is usually focused on the painful tibial tubercle below the knee instead of focusing on the real source of the problem. Several years ago I treated a college basketball player from a local town (he was a junior or senior at the time). He had been receiving treatment (sometimes hours a day) since 8th grade — all at the Tibial Tubercle. I found the FASCIAL ADHESION, broke it up, and the guy was 90% better — instantly!
- Treatment does not include breaking up the scar tissue: Osgood Schlatters Syndrome is typically addressed by resting and doing lots of stretches. A nice thought……. But until the restricting adhesion in the Fascia or TENDON is dealt with, rest and stretching are usually (in all but the most minor cases) ineffective. And let’s face the facts. How many athletes want “prolonged rest” as part of their training regimen?
The short (one inch) Patellar Tendon (just below the knee cap) anchors to the top of the shin bone and creates a small bony “bump”. With Osgood Schlatter Syndrome, the bump becomes a bony knob that can be excruciating when bumped.
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Dr. Schierling’s protocol for treating Osgood Schlatter Syndrome utilizes techniques similar to those used by the physicians and clinicians that treat both professional and college athletic teams. In most cases, it takes just a couple of in-office treatments to see a major change, and it is not uncommon to see a dramatic change after only one treatment —- often instantly. Patients are then given simple stretching and strengthening programs to do at home.
In ten years of treating Osgood Schlatter’s using our TISSUE REMODELING protocols, I am not sure that I have ever failed to see a case of Osgood Schlatter Syndrome resolve or at least dramatically improve. For more on Osgood Schlatter Syndrome, please visit HERE or go to our VIDEO TESTIMONIAL PAGE.
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