“It only hurts when I run…”
That’s often how knee pain starts for young athletes.
At first, it may seem minor.
Then it starts hurting on stairs.
Then during squats.
Then while jumping.
And before long, an athlete who loves their sport is modifying practices, missing games, or sitting on the sidelines.
For parents, that can be frustrating and confusing.
Especially when you’ve been told:
“It’s probably just growing pains.”
But sometimes, pain just below the kneecap can be a sign of Osgood-Schlatter disease, a common cause of knee pain in growing athletes.
What Is Osgood-Schlatter?
Osgood-Schlatter commonly affects active, growing kids and teenagers who participate in sports involving lots of running and jumping.
The repeated pulling and stress around the area just below the kneecap can lead to irritation and pain.
But simply knowing the name of the condition doesn’t tell us the whole story.
The bigger question is:
Why is this athlete’s knee struggling to handle the demands of their sport?
The Knee May Be Where the Pain Shows Up, Not the Whole Problem
At Connect Rehab Chiropractic & Performance, we don’t only look at the painful knee.
We also want to understand how the athlete’s entire body is handling movement.
That means looking at things like:
- Hip strength and control
- Ankle mobility
- Balance and coordination
- Overall lower-body strength
- Running and jumping mechanics
If other areas aren’t doing their share of the work, the knee may be forced to handle more stress.
Over time, that can contribute to irritation during practices, games, and workouts.
Why Rest Alone May Not Solve the Problem
Rest may help calm an irritated knee.
And sometimes, reducing activity temporarily is appropriate.
But if the athlete returns to their sport with the same movement patterns and the same ability to handle load, the knee may become irritated again.
That’s why the goal shouldn’t simply be:
“How do we make the knee stop hurting?”
We also want to ask:
“What does this athlete need to better handle the demands of their sport?”
That could mean improving strength, mobility, control, or how they absorb force during running and jumping.
Your Child Doesn’t Have to Just Push Through
Young athletes are often incredibly motivated.
They don’t want to miss practice.
They don’t want to disappoint their teammates.
And they definitely don’t want to be told to stop playing the sport they love.
But constantly pushing through knee pain isn’t the answer either.
Pain is information.
Your child’s knee may be telling you that their body is having trouble keeping up with the demands being placed on it.
Understanding why gives you a much better starting point than simply hoping the pain disappears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Osgood-Schlatter just growing pain?
Osgood-Schlatter occurs during growth, but persistent pain below the kneecap shouldn’t automatically be dismissed as “just growing pains.” Repetitive stress from activities such as running and jumping can irritate this area.
Does my child need to stop playing sports?
Not necessarily. What an athlete can safely continue doing depends on their symptoms and individual situation. The goal is to understand what is irritating the knee and appropriately manage activity while building the athlete’s capacity.
Why does the pain keep returning after rest?
Rest can calm symptoms, but it may not change the strength, mobility, or movement-control factors contributing to repeated stress on the knee.
What should we look at besides the knee?
The hips, ankles, strength, balance, movement control, and sport-specific demands can all provide useful information about why the knee may be getting overloaded.
Listen to What Their Knee Is Telling You
If your young athlete keeps saying:
“It only hurts when I run.”
“It hurts when I jump.”
“My knee hurts after practice.”
Don’t automatically assume they need to push through it.
And don’t assume pain means their sport has to be taken away.
Start by figuring out why their knee is struggling.
At Connect, we help young athletes and their families understand what may be contributing to pain and build a plan around getting them stronger, more confident, and better prepared for the activities they love.
If your child is dealing with recurring knee pain, download our patient guide to learn more about what could be going on and what your next step could look like.
Aaron Gootzeit
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