Is Their Knee Pain Just Growing Pains?
August 12, 2026 · 3 min read · Dr. Tom Grogan
Pain right below the kneecap in a running, jumping athlete is often Osgood-Schlatter disease — common, self-limiting, and still worth a look.
A question we hear constantly from parents: “My kid says it hurts right below the kneecap — is that just growing pains?”
If your child is an athlete whose sport involves running and jumping, Osgood-Schlatter disease may be at play. It develops when repetitive stress from jumping and sprinting strains the spot where the patellar tendon attaches to the shin bone.
This spot is where the growth plate is, and it's especially vulnerable during growth spurts — which is why Osgood-Schlatter disease shows up most often in young athletes at this stage.
How Common Is It?
- About 10% of kids experience it, typically appearing in boys 12-15 and girls 8-12 years old.
- It shows up in as many as 1 in 5 adolescent athletes.
- It is most common in sports with a lot of jumping and sprinting: basketball, soccer, and track.
Takeaway
The good news is that Osgood-Schlatter's is self-limiting, meaning it can resolve once the growth plate matures — and can be managed with activity modification or rest, ice, and stretching in the meantime.
If the pain does not ease up or limits activity, it's worth a check-up just to rule out whether anything else is going on.
Not every ache is “just growing pains,” and it's always worth asking.
Author
Dr. Tom Grogan
Co-Founder & President, Ortho Care on Demand
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