General information
Since the cause of Osgood-Schlatter’s disease is an insufficient ossification of the attachment of the patellar tendon to the tibia, overloading and irritation occurs in this area. Bandages can be used to prevent this permanent overloading of the incorrectly positioned structures and the resulting inflammation. These support the stability of the knee joint and also partially relax the muscles of the thigh.
This allows them to reduce some of the force exerted on the tendon attachment by the relaxed muscles. The rest of the force applied is additionally redirected or cushioned and the knee as a whole is stabilized. In particular, the ligamentum patellae, i.e. the ligament that directly connects the kneecap with the attachment to the tibia, should be additionally strengthened.
This relief is especially important in order to maintain a normal level of movement. Since the disease affects young people, at least moderate exercise can be made possible so as not to endanger the normal development of muscles and the cardiovascular system. However, the sole use of a bandage is often not sufficient.
In such cases, additional physiotherapy with targeted strength exercises should be performed to further strengthen the knee muscles. In general, you should not forget to follow the accompanying measures despite the use of a bandage. Avoiding overloading and overweight can have a strong influence on the success of the treatment. Even if the bandage provides additional support for the knee: Sports that involve particularly heavy strain on the knee should be avoided.
Bandage types
Elastic knee bandages, for example, are used as bandages. These primarily support the patella, i.e. the kneecap. Since the tendons of the thigh muscles are transferred via the patella, the muscle attachment to the shin is also relieved.
In addition, the thigh muscles are also relaxed. These bandages usually consist of a knitted, compressive material and are pulled over the knee joint like a stocking. In addition, there is a ring-shaped reinforcement or a silicone insert directly on the kneecap, which additionally fixes the kneecap itself.
Often the whole thing is stabilized laterally with sewn-in metal rods. Thus the bandage takes over part of the ligament and tendon function that the knee can no longer maintain on its own. These supports offer a relatively comprehensive hold, and also slip only minimally during sports.
However, the closed system, in combination with the plastic of the elastic material, can be uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time. With all types of bandages, care should be taken to ensure that the bandage is accurately measured. Standard products without corresponding size adjustment are not recommended, since a bandage that is too loose cannot exert its supporting effect at all, or even in exactly the wrong place.
As an alternative there is also the so-called knee brace on the market. This is simply pulled around the lower part of the knee in the shape of a ring and thus supports the tendon from below. However, the additional effect of muscular relief is eliminated.
However, only a small part of the skin is covered by the bandage, which can increase the wearing comfort. In recent years, the so-called kinesiotape has established itself as a further alternative. In this case, the supporting function is achieved by elastic tapes glued to the skin instead of the bandage.
These tapes often have a slightly better wearing comfort, but must also be reapplied regularly and professionally. This makes them rather impractical in everyday use. However, they offer good protection against slipping and can be applied very individually and anatomically precisely.
