Best Knee Strengthening Exercises for Kids with Osgood-Schlatter Disease: Quadriceps Strengthening Exercises That Are Fun and Easy to Perform
What is Osgood-Schlatter Disease?
Osgood-Schlatter disease is a condition that results in knee pain in children and adolescents. The pain is caused by inflammation of the tendon that attaches to the Tibia, just below the kneecap.
If your child is experiencing knee pain from Osgood-Schlatter disease, you may be wondering how to help. One of the best ways to strengthen the knee and reduce inflammation is by performing quadriceps strengthening exercises. These exercises are easy for kids to perform and are a lot of fun! In this article, we will discuss some of the best exercises for knee strengthening and offer tips on how to make them more enjoyable for your child.
Strengthening Exercises for Osgood-Schlatter Disease
The best knee strengthening exercises for kids with Osgood-Schlatter disease are those that target the quadriceps muscles. These muscles help to stabilise and support the knee, so it is important to strengthen them as much as possible. There are many different exercises that can be used to achieve this goal, but we will focus on a few of our favourites here.
One of the easiest exercises to start with is simply marching in place. Have your child stand with their feet hip-width apart and then lift one knee up towards their chest. Hold for a second before lowering it back down to the ground. Repeat this motion 20-30 times, then switch legs and do the same thing. This exercise is simple but effective!
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Another great quadriceps strengthening exercise is the knee extension. Have your child sit on a chair with an ankle weight or band tied around their ankle. Slowly straighten their leg out in front of them, then return to the starting position. Repeat this motion 10-15 times, then switch legs.
A third great strengthening exercise for Osgood-Schlatter disease is the wall sit. To do this, have your child stand with their back against a wall and slide down until their knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Hold this position for 30-60 seconds, then stand back up and rest for a few minutes. Repeat this cycle several times.
And our fourth favourite exercise for Osgood-Schlatter Disease is the lunge. To do this, have your child step forward with one leg, then bend both knees to a 90-degree angle. Hold for a few seconds before returning to the starting position. Repeat this motion 20 times on each leg.
As you can see, there are many different knee strengthening exercises that your child can perform to help reduce knee pain!
How to make exercises fun for kids
While these exercises are great for knee strengthening, they can also be quite boring for kids to perform. That's why it's important to make them more enjoyable! One way to do this is by adding music or other sound effects. This will help to keep your child's attention focused on the task at hand and make the exercise more fun. You can also add in some simple games or challenges to mix things up and keep things interesting.
These are just a few of our favourite quadriceps strengthening exercises for kids with Osgood-Schlatter disease. By including these exercises in your child's daily routine, you can help to reduce pain and inflammation while also helping to prevent future knee problems.
It is important to note that when performing any of these exercises, your child should always maintain proper form. A small amount of discomfort whilst performing their exercises is generally okay, but if their knee becomes too painful, or if pain persists, they should stop performing these exercises and consult professional healthcare advice (like a Physio). Be sure to also take breaks as needed and drink plenty of water throughout the workout.
By strengthening the quadriceps muscles, you can help your child reduce knee pain from Osgood-Schlatter disease. These exercises are simple, fun, and easy to perform – so get started today!
