Best products for Osgood Schlatter Disease
Osgood Schlatter Disease causes pain at the front of the knee in children between the ages of 10 and 15 years old. Symptoms include:
- Pain just below the patella at the front of the leg.
- Pain is worse with exercise and improves with rest.
- A visible lump or bump at the top of the shin (called the tibial tuberosity).
Although most kids grow out of it eventually if they rest and look after it, there are a number of products which help manage and relieve the symptoms of Osgood Schlatter disease.
Knee support for Osgood Schlatter Disease
The best knee support for Osgood Schlatter Disease is most likely a patella tendon strap. It is applied around the knee joint, just below the patella (knee cap) and applies pressure on the patella tendon (joins the patella to the tibia).
As a result, the way forces transmit through the tendon are changed, taking the pressure off the painful area.
It should be worn all the time if your knee is painful to help it rest and recover. Later, when your symptoms have resolved you should wear it for training or exercise.
Cold therapy
The most important thing when treating Osgood Sclatter Disease is to reduce pain and inflammation. Applying a cold therapy compression wrap is most effective way of doing this. Cold can be applied for 10 minutes every couple of hours if you have pain, as well as after every exercise session.
Cold gel
Gold gel helps reduce pain and inflammation of Osgood Schlatter Disease. It should not be used instead of applying a gold gel pack, but is great if you do not have access to ice, for example at school or work. Cold gel is convenient and easy to apply throughout the day.
Osgood Schlatter Disease taping
Tape is applied the same way as a Patella tendon strap. The technique is known as a Crystal Palace wrap. Cohesive tape is ideal as it sticks to itself, not the skin, although some physios may prefer non stretch zinc oxide tape. The advantage of using tape is you can apply compression more accurately. However, it may take practice and in the long run may be more expensive.
Foam roller
Using a foam roller regularly helps keep your quadriceps muscles at the front of the thigh in good condition. Stretching the quad muscles is an important part of Osgood Schlatter Disease treatment, although if your knee is acutely painful this can be uncomfortable. Using a foam roller is like having a massage. It helps stretch and relax tight and weak muscles.
