Tom Willemann Health Tips

"Regular Health Tips From Physical Therapist Tom Willemann..."

Use the Form Below to Get Them All Sent to You for FREE

Jump on Treating Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Tom Willemann |

Osgood-Schlatter disease (syndrome), a common cause of knee pain in as many as one in five children and young athletes, especially boys, 10 to 15 years of age, usually occurs after a period of quick growthcoupled with intense physical or sporting activity.

Children who participate in running and jumping activities experience a greater strain on the patellar tendon, leading to inflammation and pain when it pulls the patella away from the shinbone. To close the gap, the body produces new bone, creating a bony lump. The condition usually clears up once growth stops and the tendons are stronger, but it can continue into adulthood.

While Osgood-Schlatter disease typically occurs in just one knee, it sometimes develops in both knees.

Click to Tweet

The discomfort can last from weeks to months and may recur until the growth period has ended. Symptoms include pain, swelling and tenderness at the bony prominence just below the kneecap, and tightness of the surrounding muscles, especially the quadriceps in the thigh. This pain worsens with activity, such as running, jumping and climbing stairs, and improves with rest.

Depending on the severity of the disease, techniques that can help reduce the child’s discomfort might include:

  • ice after physical activity
  • rest and immobilization as needed during bouts of pain
  • anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications as prescribed by their physician
  • stretching exercises for the quadriceps and hamstrings
  • a knee brace with a patellar tendon strap below the kneecap to stabilize the patellar tendon during activities and distribute force away from the shinbone
  • a contoured pad to protect the knee in more severe cases

It is important that your child avoid activities that cause a lot of pain, especially ones that involve a great amount of jumping, squatting or kneeling. Weight-bearing exercises can worsen symptoms. Although the injury can be upsetting to children and athletes who suffer from its effects, a tailored program of physical therapy and appropriate rest can relieve symptoms until the process resolves.


Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus, NJ provides orthopedic and sports physical therapy services for the greater Paramus, Ridgewood, and Bergen County region.  This blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. The views expressed here are the author’s views and should be taken as suggestions. Always consult your physician before engaging in a physical therapy or rehabilitative regimen.


Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann is a premier physical therapist based out of Bergen County, New Jersey. He holds an MS in physical therapy from the University of Miami, is credentialed in the world-renowned McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), and holds an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) certification. As of 2018, there are approximately 14,000 ABPTS certified specialists in the nation and less than 400 of them are located in the state of New Jersey. Tom is the owner and director of Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus. He opened the clinic, which specializes in spine and sports injury prevention, in 2004 after many years of experience in the field. Tom’s caring interest in others and his strong belief in continuity of care, combined with his clinic’s ability to find solutions for the most difficult orthopedic problems, have earned Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation its excellent reputation with patients and medical professionals in northeastern New Jersey and beyond. A true “family man,” Tom takes pride in his clinic’s warm and welcoming environment.
Share This