Osgood Schlatter's Disease - Definition
Dr Sindi Ludik • June 18, 2025
Osgood Schlatter’s is a very common knee condition in children and adolescents (+/-10-15 years), typically when they are physically active or during growth spurts.
Osgood-Schlatter disease happens because the tendon from quadricep muscle pulls really hard on the tibial tubercle (bony bump on the shin bone). In children and adolescents, the tibial tubercle is still growing - made of softer cartilage and new bone. It is easily irritated or damaged from too much tension and repeated stress, e.g. running, jumping, playing sports and even during growth spurts when the femur grows faster than the quadricep muscle.