Muscle problems - could it be Osgoods Schlatters?

[Jaybee]

My ds aged 8 is very sporty (football, rugby, basketball, athletics, swimmming) and also quite advanced physically for his age - he has recently started to run very stiffly and has started to complain that his legs feel stiff after he has been exercising. My dh suffered from Osgoods Schlatters when he in adolescence so it could be that but surely he is too young - any thoughts?

My daughter had it for a bit but I can't remember how old she was - hers was in her knees, I think.

It is an adolescent kind of thing but if he is advanced physically he would get it early?

Sorry - not much help!

Just had a look on google, Jaybee:

Osgood Schlatters disease is not a disease in the conventional sense. It is a depressingly common overuse injury that affects the upper part of the shinbone, just below the knee. It is most common in adolescents who are active in sports and can frustratingly cause an enforced lay-off for gifted sports people between the ages of 9 and 14 years. It is more common in males than in females.

Osgood Schlatters is a form of traction apophysitis (pronounced "trak-shun apof-o-site-is". It occurs on an area of the shinbone called the tibial tuberosity (this is the small lump at the top of your shin, just below the kneecap).

This was from a site called the Physio Room - there are a few others.

Its thought to be caused by sudden growth spurts. Muscles don't "elongate" as quickly as bones lengthen, so the affected child tends to have v short/tight hamstrings (muscles at the back of the thigh) and calf muscles. This is thought to result in additional forces occuring around the quadriceps attachment at the top of the shin (as Janh described, the tibial tuberosity) as the quads work harder to overcome the tightness of the muscles at the back of the leg. The constant pulling (traction apophysitis) at this point causes the swelling and pain.
Never seen anyone as young as 8 with it, but if he's put on a sudden growth spurt, then this might account for the stiffness. Sufferers normally feel pain around the tibial tuberosity, it often looks puffy and swollen, and check for muscle tightness. I'd still get him checked out by his GP, just in case.

Treatment for Osg Schl is usually rest from sports, except non-weight bearing things like swimming and cycling (up to a point, but being 8yrs he's probably up on the pedals all the time, so this would be out too), physiotherpy, to help reduce pain/swelling and to help re-educate the muscles and restore normal muscle balance.
Unfortunately, if it is Osg Schl, there is no definite cure until ds stops growing, although a lot of sufferers will stop getting symptoms way before this.

Thanks for all the responses. I have taken ds to our GP and he thinks that it may be the start of Osgoods Schlatters (only seems mild at present) but he cannot be completely sure, he advised him to take it easy for a while and for me to take him swimming - only problem is that I cannot keep up with him (we went at the weekend and he swam 60 lengths!!) - her reminds me of the rabbit in the old Duracell advert!!
He plays football for quite a good local team and they have recommended that we have a word with their physiotherapist - I really hope I do not have to keep him restrained and make him lay off the sport - he will drive me mad!!