Osteoarthritis of the knee joint.Treatment and prevention

Articulations osteoarthritis is a degenerative (or metabolic) disease, that is, not inflammatory.But the causes of the osteoarthritis of the joints are not completely studied by official medicine.The versions occur that excess weight, age, metabolic disorders in tissues (muscles) and joints, premature cartilage wear, small loads, large loads, etc., genetic, etc., contribute to osteoarthritis.That is, it is not clear what to influence to treat and effectively prevent the osteoarthritis of the knee joint.

cartilage wear

In fact, (and this is confirmed by literature and evidence -based medical experience), osteoarthritis is a consequence of the disease of the interested muscles (it spreads through a specific articulation).Sick muscles in a state of constant compression carry excess pressure on the joint, causing their greater wear.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint: What is it?

The osteoarthritis of the knee (like any other) articulation is called in a different way the deforming osteosis (that is, the degeneration of the cartilage and the bone) is the degenerative lesion -progressive district of cardilaginous and bone (near the carilage), its erased and reduction, which leads to the dysfunction of the dysfunction of the articulation (limiting in mobility in mobility in mobility in mobility in mobility in mobilityMobility in the articulation), and the cause) of the articulation).various degrees of intensity.

By simple, this is the wear of the joint, it means that the wear of the cartilaginous fabric, which should guarantee a soft sliding of the articular surfaces with each other, and the bone structures in which the cartilage is found.This whole process is accompanied by a narrowing of the intermediary space and the loss of elasticity of the ligament apparatus.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint: symptoms

Very often, the disease proceeds asymptomatic, and can only be detected in a magnetic resonance.In its "mature" stage of the disease, it can be felt by improving pain in the problem area and motor restrictions in the joint.At the same time, osteoarthritis is a common problem and occurs in 70% of all joint injuries.It is impossible to call the cause of the development of the disease, but there are certain factors that often become a catalyst for osteoarthritis.

The main symptoms of the osteoarthritis of the knee joint include:

  • Knee joint pain of different intensity and duration
  • The stiffness of the knee joint is the inability to straighten or complete the leg in the knee joint (sometimes it is impossible to squat)
  • Clicks and creak in the knee joint.It is believed that the joint loses the liquid, and the joint surfaces slide relatively in relation to each other, this can be accompanied by a characteristic sound
Osteoarthritis and arthritis

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint: reasons

However, narrow profile experts believe that the main cause of articulations osteoarthritis is myofascial syndrome, which is manifested by a muscles disease that overlap through an interested joint (activation points).

The activation point is a voltage approach in muscle fibers, which is activated under certain conditions and is manifested by acute pain.It is precisely for triggering points that myofascial syndrome is recognized.In case of trigger points, the elasticity of the muscle is lost, because the mobility of the joint decreases.They arise as a result of an injury, as well as an intensive or chronic muscle overload, a prolonged stay in an immobilized state.

The muscles are in a state of hiring (constant compression) and this excess compression is in the interested joint (in our case, the knee joint).

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint and arthritis, what is the difference?

To understand the cause and nature of the course of the disease, it is very important to determine the difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis.Its main difference is that the nature of osteoarthritis is not inflammatory, while arthritis is an inflammatory pathology.At the same time, inflammatory processes are systemic and extend to the entire organism.

Arthosis is a metabolic pathology caused by metabolic disorders in the body.Pain syndrome in osteoarthritis occurs in combined conditions: trigger points and several joint disorders.The elimination of activation points will lead, if not to complete recovery, to a significant improvement in the general condition.

Symptoms

The main criterion of knee joint arthritis is the presence of an inflammation agent, that is, virus, infection, fungus, bacteria.In addition, there may be any place of location of an infectious agent.Often, gonorrhea or other sexual infections can enter a chronic form and give complications to the joints.
With the arthritis of the knee joint, the redness of the skin is observed around the joints, swelling and the increase in volume joints, an increase in the temperature of the entire body and the local joint is observed.With the osteoarthritis of the knee joint, these symptoms generally not.However, osteoarthritis and arthritis can be found combined.

4 stages of osteoarthritis of the knee joint

If, if osteoarthritis is detected, not to begin its integral treatment, over time the disease will begin to progress and the symptoms will be aggravated.The appropriate diagnosis and adequate therapy, which to effectively combine with other treatment methods, will significantly improve the general condition of the patient and prevent prolonged, painful and expensive treatment.

The 3 (4) stages of the development of the osteoarthritis of the knee joint are officially distinguished:

  1. 1 grade.This is a period of time from the appearance of the first symptoms of osteoarthritis to its visible manifestations, which can already be detected during the initial examination or in an X line.The patient's condition is characterized by painful sensations of different intensity that occur during movement.
  2. 2 degrees.The patient experiences discomfort and "shoot" pain even in minor charges.Human movements can be accompanied by a crack in the knee when walking, squats, etc.It is possible to reduce the mobility of the knee joint.The area affected by osteoarthritis is visually deformed and increases in size.
  3. diagnosis
  4. 3 degrees.There are practically no cartilage fabric inside the joint.With a particularly advanced form, complete immobilization of the limb can occur.It is difficult for the patient to take a situation in which he feels comfortable, moving without auxiliary means becomes almost impossible.
  5. In addition, the fourth stage of the osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be distinguished separately.This condition is complete destruction, which leads to the fact that the articulation completely loses its functionality.At the same time, the patient experiences the "joint blocking" - acute pain syndrome.

Diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee joint

Arthosis is a chronic disease, whose treatment is comprehensive and regular.Therefore, timely diagnosis and adequate therapy will allow the patient to minimize damage to the joint of the knee joint.

The diagnosis of osteoarthritis is also complicated by the fact that the disease can often be asymptomatic.However, in the presence of painful sensations, the doctor after the exam can prescribe radiography.And although their results cannot always be indicative, they give a general idea of how much the disease has "advanced."

You can obtain more precise data, thanks to modern diagnostic methods: ultrasound, magnetic resonance, etc.

However, changes in magnetic resonance not always correspond to the patient's sensations and complaints.It happens that in the image of the knee joint there are changes of degenerative distributions both in the cartilage and in the meniscus and the ligaments, but there is no complaints at all.And vice versa, there is pain and other symptoms, and on the exam leaf everything is normal.

Remember that with the osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is important to diagnose the muscles of the hip (muscles of the lower part of the leg, the quadriceps of the thigh) for the presence of myofascial activation points, which in 80% of the cases give pain and lead to changes in the images of the joint.
Important: if the patient has psoriasis, then osteoarthritis can be psoriás genesis.

Ineffective methods to treat the osteoarthritis of the knee joint

injections treatment

All official methods to treat osteoarthritis are divided into:

  • non -pharmacological;
  • pharmacological;
  • Surgical.

Surgical intervention is a necessary measure in the advanced stage of the disease.The operation is carried out to replace the destroyed joint with a synthetic analogue.

Practicing doctors, such as Rule, recipe several physiotherapists and exercise therapy (Physiotherapy Physical Education) to treat the osteoarthritis of the knee joint.However, strength exercises only exacerbate the course of the disease, activating the trigger points, increasing pain, etc.Therefore, this method of therapy is ineffective.

The Khondroprotectors deserve special attention.It is believed that drugs of this class restore the cartilage.First, the basis of evidence of these medications is of doubtful nature, because these studies of these expensive medications are carried out by the manufacturers themselves.Secondly, it is a symptomatic treatment, that is, it is aimed at research, not to reason.Reason is muscle disease.

The osteoarthritis of the joints is a degenerative disease, that is, not inflammatory.But the causes of the osteoarthritis of the joints are not completely studied by official medicine.

The versions occur that excess weight, age, metabolic disorders in tissues (muscles) and joints, premature cartilage wear, small loads, large loads, etc., genetic, etc., contribute to osteoarthritis.That is, it is not clear what to influence to treat and effectively prevent the osteoarthritis of the knee joint.

In fact, (and this is confirmed by evidence -based literature and medical experience), osteoarthritis is a consequence of the disease of the interested muscles (muscles that are thrown through a specific articulation).Sick muscles in a state of constant compression carry excess pressure on the joint, causing their greater wear.

Effective treatment of the knee joint osteoration

Proper osteoarthritis therapy of the knee joint should be systemic and complex.It is based precisely on the treatment of muscles and includes taking drugs (to adjust aggravating and harmful factors for MFS), and properly selected physiotherapy of the knee joint and the muscles of the hip) and, of course, myofascial massage. 

massage

The most effective methods to treat TT are:

  • Deep massage of comrades;
  • Trigger activation points
  • Shock wave therapy
  • Postisometric relaxation.

In addition to the previous muscle of the thigh, the massage is also performed in the muscles of the synergists and antagonists.At the same time, the kneecap is not massaged: the massage specialist plays the main emphasis on the muscles.

The "device" of the main massage is the teacher's hands.For self -awareness, several devices are used that contribute to increasing the effectiveness of the procedure.

Exercise therapy for the osteoarthritis of the knee joint

The final stage of the therapy is the performance of the exercises to stretch the upper (front) surface of the thigh.It is important that you feel the tension in the place where you massage.

By prescribing and performing physiotherapy exercises with osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is important to understand the basic principle, that is, why these exercises are performed (for what purpose).The main objective is to stretch all abbreviated muscle fibers (cramps) so that the muscle can be completely stretch in its anatomical volume of movement.

Prevention of knee joint osteorosis

In the treatment of the disease, it is important to observe preventive measures that include the following actions:

  • Compilation of the correct diet: Your daily menu must be balanced and rich in trace elements, proteins and vitamins.After all, the lack of trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, zinc leads to the aggravation of myofascial syndrome;
  • Moderate physical activity: Try not to load the knee joint unnecessarily and avoid traumatic damage.If the muscle is in a static position for a long time, this contributes to the formation of triggers;
  • Rejection of bad habits: Lead a healthy lifestyle, follow your weight;
  • Complex therapy: Combine popular methods of auxiliary treatment.

Auxiliary methods to treat the osteoarthritis of the knee joint

Additional methods

The treatment of the osteoarthritis of the knee joint will be especially effective if combined with auxiliary therapy methods.Consider their most popular.

  • Laser therapy.This procedure is considered the most popular and common among patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee joint.The therapeutic effect is achieved due to the reflex expansion of the blood vessels above the approach of the pathological process in the muscle.This contributes to the normalization of metabolism (do not forget, osteoarthritis is a metabolic disease) and helps reduce pain syndrome.
  • CryotherapyThis method is not as popular as the previous one.However, its effectiveness is quite high.Due to local exposure to low temperatures, pain in the problem area is significantly reduced and the formation of biologically active substances slows down, which leads to the aggravation of the disease.Cryotherapy procedures contribute to the activation of blood flow and the recovery processes in the joint.
  • Balneotherapy.It is carried out in sanatorium resort conditions.Outrosis aquarium implies the use of medical baths: with this disease, radon baths are considered the most effective.The therapeutic effect of procedures is an improvement in metabolic processes in the joint.

Complex therapy in combination with the car -Massage will improve the general condition with osteoarthritis and minimize the possible risks of complete destruction of the joint.The main thing is to adhere to the recommendations of experts, follow preventive measures and combine main therapy with other treatment methods.