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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffOsgood-Schlatter disease usually gets better without formal treatment. Symptoms typically disappear after your child's bones stop growing. Until that happens, your doctor may recommend mild pain relievers and physical therapy.
Medications
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) may be helpful.
Therapy
A physical therapist can teach your child exercises to stretch the thigh's quadriceps and hamstrings, which may help reduce the tension on the spot where the kneecap's tendon attaches to the shinbone. Strengthening exercises for the quadriceps can help stabilize the knee joint.
- DeLee JC, et al. Osgood-Schlatter disease. In: DeLee JC, et al. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2003. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/116712524-3/792345253/1103/929.html#4-u1.0-B0-7216-8845-4..50030-2--cesec250_3760. Accessed Jan. 15, 2009.
- Kienstra AJ, et al. Osgood-Schlatter disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 15, 2009.
- Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 16, 2009.
