Pain at the front of knee (Osgood-Schlatter)
【Condition】
This ailment tends to be seen in junior high school students who run and jump daily during sports practice. As a result, the bone below the knee (tibial tuberosity) becomes protuberated and painful when pushed. In advanced cases, there is pain when jogging or bending the knee.
【Cause】
The root cause is “front imbalance” and “excessive tension to quadriceps muscle caused by walking with toes ungrounded”. When the knee is kept bent (front imbalance) for hours in soccer or athletics, the pressure on the quadriceps muscle increases. Moreover, with continued sport activities performed on an imbalanced sole, cases with bunion, ungrounded toe or flatfoot for example, the pressure on quadriceps muscle is mechanically doubled. If the quadriceps is under tension for a long time, it loses flexibility and pulls the patellar ligament continuously. As a result, fractures form, leading to inflammation of the tendon and excess bone growth, producing a visible lump.
This mechanism sometimes happens when hopping forward in a squatting position or going down a mountain trail with a burden and gives pain as the gravity point becomes concentrated in the front knee. External rotation of the lower limbs also puts double the pressure on the quadriceps.
【Key of Treatment】
Stabilize the damaged area with 1 and a half to 2 rolls of bandage, widely covering the leg from mid-thigh to above the ankle, while the knee is bent at 45 degrees. A piece of cardboard should be laid between non-elastic bandages to firmly press avulsion fracture of tibial tuberosity. We recommend to wrapping an elastic bandage or knee supporter over the non-elastic bandage. Wearing 3-toe socks in combination has a synergistic effect. If the injury persists after two months, it is necessary to review the wrapping technique to be sure the bandages are wrapped properly.
【Required period】
About 2 months
