Osgood Schlatters Exercises

Written By: Chloe Wilson, BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy
Reviewed by: KPE Medical Review Board

Osgood Schlatters disease is a common knee problem caused by irritation of the bone just below the kneecap which leads to pain and inflammation.

It is most common in adolescents, tending to occur after a sudden growth spurt, and is usually associated with muscle weakness and tightness.

Recovery from Osgood Schlatters can take anything from a couple of weeks to two years, depending on how well it is treated.

Exercises are one of the key features of treatment for Osgood Schlatters Disease, and it is important to both strengthen and stretch the knee muscles, particularly the quadriceps. Here we will look at some of the best strengthening exercises for Osgood Schlatters and then go on to look at what stretches can help too.

If you want to find out more about the causes, symptoms and other treatment options available, visit the Osgood Schlatter Overview.

Purpose: Strengthens the hamstrings whilst also working the quads and buttock muscles.  A great all-round exercise

Starting Position: Lie on your back with both knees bent about 90° and your feet on the floor/bed

Action: Clench your buttocks and lift your bottom off the bed as high as you can without arching your back. Hold for 3-5 seconds and slowly lower

Repetitions: Repeat 10-25 times, 1-2x daily

Note: a. Keep your back straight – don’t let it arch as you lift up, it should be your bottom doing the work
b. Don’t hold your breath – keep breathing normally
c. Don’t let your knees drop out – imagine you are trying to hold a tennis ball between your knees

Progression: Use a resistance band looped around your knees or over your thighs to make the exercise harder

Purpose: Increase the muscles on the inside of your knee that are responsible for how the kneecap moves, also increases knee stability, commonly lacking with Osgood Schlatters

Starting Position: Sit in a chair, feet hip width apart with a soft/foam football in between your knees.

Action: Clench your buttocks, clench your knees and gently squeeze the ball with your knees. Hold for 3-5 secs and relax

Repetition: Repeat 10-20x, 2x daily

Tips: a. Place your fingers on the muscles on the inside of the knee and feel the muscle tighten underneath you to check you are doing it right
b. When you squeeze the ball, make sure the squeezing movement comes from your knees, not your hips

Note: If you don’t have a foam football, you could use a folded up pillow

Purpose: Further strengthening of the muscles on the inside of your knee that control the kneecap moves. Also increases knee stability

Starting Position: Lying on your back with you feet hip width apart with a soft football in between your knees

Action: Squeeze the football as with stage 1 (clench buttocks and knee muscles). Hold for 3 secs and slowly relax

Repetition: Repeat 10-20x, 2x daily

Progression: Place a pillow under your knee's so they are bent 30°. Squeeze the ball and then maintaining the squeeze, lift your foot up off the bed to straighten the knee. Hold for 3 seconds, slowly lower and finally relax the squeeze on the ball

Note: a. Ensure that you keep squeezing the ball throughout the exercise – keep the knee and buttock clench going throughout.
b. Keep the knee resting on the pillow – do not lift it up

RELATED ARTICLE: VMO Exercises>

Purpose: Strengthen the Quads muscles without bending the knee NB not suitable if you have a history of back problems

Starting Position: Lying flat on your back. Leg and knee straight

Action: Pull your toes towards you and tighten/clench the muscle on the front of the thigh, locking your knee straight. Lift your foot up about 6 inches off the bed. Hold for 3-5 secs and slowly lower. Ensure your knee stays straight the whole time

Repetition: repeat 10-20 times, 2x daily

Progression: Add a weight e.g. a shoe or ankle weight.

Purpose: Strengthen the buttock muscles (glutes) to help support the knee and prevent excessive weight going through the inner side of the knee – a must for anyone with Osgood Schlatters!

Starting position: Lie on your side with your hip and knees bent approx 90°, feet together.

Action: Keeping your feet together, lift the top knee up as high as you can. Hold for 3 seconds and slowly lower

Repetition: Repeat 10-25x on each side, 2x daily

Note: Do not let your top hip roll backwards