15 y/o. 120lbs. 5'4".

More specifically (for your information), Osgoods-schlatter is a disorder where the attachment of the Common Quadriceps Tendon, where it attaches to the front of the tibia suffers a stress reaction. That inflammation will eventually cause the bone to build up. It is most common in young men ages 14-18, and usually is outgrown by then. 15% of cases are active into adulthood. I am VERY familiar with it, as I have it in both knees, and am one of the lucky 15%.

It is essential that you have perfect form on squats. You should be able to do them without knee pain, but you MUST be sitting back when you squat so that your knees never go in front of your toes (a very common mistake). You can try to raise your heels on a 25# plate or a 2x4, this will allow you to stay more upright, but will decrease the hamstring and glute involvement of the squats. Hack squats and sissy squats will be your worst enemy as far as aggravating your OS.

You can ice your knee after working out. You should see a chiropractor that is well versed in extremity work, who can make sure that the mechanics in your knee is optimal, and lastly, you can use a CHO-Pat to decrease the stress on the tibia.

If you have any further questions, PM me, or post here, and I'll do my best to answer any other questions you have.

More specifically (for your information)You can try to raise your heels on a 25# plate or a 2x4, this will allow you to stay more upright, but will decrease the hamstring and glute involvement of the squats.

Actually this would probably be one of the worst things you can do for your knees. You want all the weight on your heels not your toes. If you can balance on just the plate so that your toes don't touch the ground at all... then you're golden... you'd also be my fuckin hero cuz that's damn near impossible with any weighton there. heh.

Try modifying your stance a bit. Squat with no shoes on... or wrestling shoes... anything with a super thin heel is great. Keep your stance really wide, keep your feet well past shoulder length apart. Like they said, when you're in the hole, keep those knees behind your toes... keep that ass stickin way out and your back arched hard. That'll keep your knees healthy and should help your lifts quite a bit.

OS is a shitty disease. I feel for ya man. It's part of a natural process gone wrong really. All of the tuberosities and ridges, etc at the attachment sites on our bones are formed by this same process... originally all our bones are smooth but it's the pull of the muscles on the bones that shapes them over the years... OS just takes this a step further and pain and inflammation are the result. Keep those knees in good shape, man.

Actually this would probably be one of the worst things you can do for your knees. You want all the weight on your heels not your toes.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one Tadg. Not regarding the weight on the heels, that is exactly right. The process of raising the heels is to decrease the need for extreme ankle dorsiflexion which many novice squatters use when their position is NOT back and ON THEIR HEELS, where it should be. The point that I was trying to make was to keep the body position more upright and the knees behind the toes. By raising the heels this can be done. And remember that he is a soccer player, so the typical powerlifting body position that you are talking about might not be the most effective position for him to be in to strengthen the quads.

Again, not saying that you are wrong, but disagreeing with your correction of my statement. It's another approach. By the way, nice description on the rest of the lift...

SD

Thanks to both for the information.

I have had OS for about 2-3 years now and it used to hurt so bad i couldnt walk. I dont really understand OS because the pain has stopped this past week when i was working out. Its on and off pain, does that mean i'm aggravating it when i run and workout? or does it mean its changing?

I also still have questions about my diet. I have been starting to eat a bigger breakfast but am i supposed to eat a big meal before and after i workout? just before? just after?

Also i dont know if anybody plays soccer but before a soccer game what should i eat? all i know is carbs, like pasta or something.