| The object of this pilot study was to investigate | | | | dates (1-5 years) only 2 patients reported |
| the dual influence of myofascial release massage | | | | recurrence but they had not followed the |
| (MRM) and stretching of the quadriceps group on | | | | recommended advice on stretching. |
| the speed of recovery of patients with OSD. | | | | |
| | | | | Discussion: In spite of the vagaries of adolescent |
| Method: 25 patients were referred for | | | | and parent compliance, and the limitations of clinic |
| physiotherapy treatment for OSD (6 female, | | | | appointments, these results indicate that MRM and |
| aged 11.6 ±1.5SD; 19 male, aged 13 ± 1.6). | | | | stretching are likely to be an important |
| Onset of symptoms ranged from acute (1 week) | | | | intervention in the active treatment of this |
| to chronic (36 months) with an average of 8 | | | | disabling condition. The patients in this study |
| months. Initial measurements of functional tendon | | | | returned to their sport in a significantly shorter |
| loading using a standing wall slide test4 were | | | | time than is usually anticipated with the traditional |
| taken for all subjects. This test was then | | | | ‘let them grow out of it’ approach. |
| repeated at regular intervals. MRM was performed | | | | |
| daily for 2 minutes, either by the physiotherapist | | | | Keywords: Osgood-Schlatter, adolescent, knee |
| or parent who had been taught the technique. | | | | injury, massage, stretching, apophysitis |
| Once pain free knee flexion was achieved, active | | | | |
| stretching was then performed daily by the | | | | References: |
| patient instead of the MRM. Statistical analysis was | | | | 1. Osgood RB (1903) “Tibial tubercle occurring |
| performed to determine any significance between | | | | during Adolescence” Boston Medical Science |
| subsequent recordings using one-tailed t-tests. | | | | Journal 148 pg 114-119 |
| | | | | 2. Outerbridge AR and Micheli LJ (1995) "Overuse |
| Results: All patients achieved a full wall squat in an | | | | Injuries in the Young Athlete" Clinics in Sports |
| average of 20 days (±12) with a maximum of | | | | Medicine July 14(3), p 503-516 |
| 50. The improvement in wall slide was significant | | | | 3. Antich TJ and Lombardo SJ (1985) “Clinical |
| to 98% (p<0.02) for each recording. Upon full | | | | Presentation of Osgood-Schlatter Disease in the |
| wall slide patients were discharged and returned | | | | Adolescent Population” Journal of Orthopaedic |
| to their sporting activities as normal, with no | | | | and Sports Physical Therapy 7(1) pg1-4 |
| reported further problems. At various follow-up | | | | 4. |