Joint damage osteoarthritis happens for a variety of reasons, but the consequences of the disease have a significant negative impact on human activity. If we consider osteoarthritis of the knee, it should be noted that the disease is the most common among all types of arthritis. The ratio of identified diagnoses by gender shows that most from osteoarthritis of the knee suffer from female patients. World statistics say that about 22% of the population suffer from osteoarthritis.
What reasons can lead to osteoarthritis of the knee?
To identify the causes of osteoarthritis took years of examination of patients and to study the clinical picture of the pathological process. The doctors pointed out that under the impact of certain negative factors is the destruction of the cartilage, it wears out and ceases to protect the joint. Friction occurs between the heads of the joint that causes pain and inflammation. Thus was established the main reasons that lead to destruction of the cartilage tissue:
- Injury to the knee. If a person in any period of his life he had a fracture or dislocation of the knee, it is at risk and later will get osteoarthritis. When the damaged joint is hampered his movement, and therapeutic treatment involves fixation. A long presence in the stillness leads to disruption of blood flow, which also contributes to the formation of osteoarthritis.
- Injury to the meniscus. One of the most dangerous causes. Any damage to this organ of the knee joint invariably leads to the formation of osteoarthritis.
- Heavy physical activity. Especially cautiously it is necessary to refer to strenuous physical load on the knee elderly. Strong pressure on the knee joint, which weakens with age, can cause microtrauma, which doesn't show up immediately, but then leads to the formation of a negative process of destruction of cartilage. After the age of 40 should protect the knees and approach to sports and heavy labor is reasonable, reducing their number. Refrain from such exercises, like squats or running on asphalt.
- Weak structure of ligaments. As a rule, it leads to abnormal mobility of the joint. Nice young body flexibility in older age impact on the knee joint and lead to osteoarthritis.
- Other diseases of the joints. If a person, for example, discovered the arthritis, over time it can transform into arthritis.
- A lot of weight. Extra pounds increase the load on the knee may cause meniscus injury. When overweight situation worsens, develops osteoarthritis. If a person with more weight there is the varicose veins, can develop a very severe form of osteoarthritis.
- Problems with the metabolism. Failures in the exchange of substances provoke a poor supply of essential elements in the fabric. Cartilage and bone loses calcium, resulting in the destruction and weakening of their structure.
- Stress and nervous tension. Frequent anxiety and worries have a negative impact on the condition of the joints. Emotionally women are more often exposed to stress. Especially hard to bear the nervous strain of a woman whose age is approaching 50, when the menopause.
Features of the degree of gonarthrosis
In medicine it is customary to divide the arthrosis of the knee on the degree of character development. In addition, the amount of damage to the disease can be bilateral and unilateral. Unilateral gonarthrosis is divided into right and left. More information about the disease from the expert on this video:
For each extent of disease developed clinical picture showing the severity of its development.
First degree
To identify osteoarthritis of the knee 1st degree is a great success for the physician and the patient. The disease at this stage does not have severe clinical signs. The disease can be diagnosed at the time of examination or in the study of another disease.
Second degree
In symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee 2 the extent there are new signs of the disease. The severity of pain and stiffness in the knee region is increasing. The muscles in the affected location will atrophy due to the fact that a person begins to take care of the patient's limb is less than its load. Begins deformation of the joint in which it is impossible to fully straighten the knee. Palpation detects abnormal specialist education. Gradually develops the deformation of the joint. The knee does not bend.
Third degree
Osteoarthritis of the knee 3 degrees makes itself felt constant pain. The deformation reaches a critical volume at which the limb ceases to bend and unbend, the person becomes difficult to walk up to complete immobility of the legs. In the absence of proper treatment in the affected joint ankylosis develops. Cartilage tissue being completely destroyed by the friction of the joints increases. There comes a situation where for osteoarthritis of the knee operation is the only effective method of treatment.
The typical symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee
To determine the presence of osteoarthritis can only expert, but for the patient it is important to know the basic for osteoarthritis of the knee symptoms. For the disease characterized by the following signs:
- Pain. Knee pain in osteoarthritis do not appear immediately. Minor manifestations may disturb the person for a few years. Then there is increased pain, they do not stop and in a calm state, be sure to occur after a long walk.
- Crunch.In 2 and 3 stages clear, it listens for the crunch in the knee.
- Synovitis. Accumulation of fluid in the affected knee joint leads to swelling in the knee for osteoarthritis, which doctors call a Baker's cyst.
- Deformation of the knee joint.Appears at a late stage of the disease. Is accompanied by inflammation and swelling.
Diagnosed as gonarthrosis?
The main diagnostic tool a doctor working in a conventional clinic, is a radiographic examination of the patient. Using x-ray specialist can see the degree of development of the pathological process. In addition, x-ray helps to exclude possible causes of discomfort sensations tumors and other diseases.
In the initial stage of gonarthrosis is weak, the picture shows no significant changes. In order to affirm the diagnosis, your doctor may prescribe a repeat examination after a certain period of time. With the development of the disease the x-ray shows narrowing of the joint space, identifies the seal in the subchondral region of the joint. It is important to take into account the fact that elderly patients have characteristic changes in the joints, but always these changes lead to the development of pathology. Only the combination of features of osteoarthritis visible on the picture, and obvious clinical symptoms allow a specialist to ascertain the presence of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Progressive methods of treating disease
jpg" class='imgblock right center_mob'>Modern medicine is constantly looking for how osteoarthritis of the knee to treat effectively, and finds new ways of dealing with a dangerous disease. Today patients are available techniques such as ozone therapy and kinesitherapy.
Ozone therapy is the treatment of the affected joint ozone. Applies to physiotherapy and allows you to enter the ozonized drugs by injection in muscle tissue. Has anti-inflammatory and bezbolevaya, helps to improve blood flow to problem areas. The method has no contraindications.
Kinesitherapy is a complex of special exercises aimed at improving mobility of the joint, increase blood flow in the sick place, the tissue of the affected cartilage and elasticity of ligaments. For exercise, use of special equipment. The work included not only the affected joint, but all systems of the body, allowing you to bring in the best state of the patient.
Physical therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee
The efficacy of physiotherapy for osteoarthritis of the knee joint has proven its use and enthusiastic reviews of patients through exercise therapy has retained the motor function of the limb. Of course, developed exercises should be one part of a comprehensive treatment of the disease. How would you do without drugs and physical therapy to achieve full-fledged change for the better is impossible. The main principle of therapy: no excess stress on the diseased joint, only precise and quiet movement. At home you can perform a simple exercise that improves blood circulation and helps to relieve muscle spasm. Need to lie on your back, raise the straightened leg and hold it a few seconds. It is useful to just raise the legs alternately, while in the same initial position.
The specifics of massage for osteoarthritis
A useful addition to the therapeutic tactic is to massage the knee for osteoarthritis. Even the most experienced professionals believe that massage is obligatory in the treatment of this disease. If you are going to massage the knee arthrosis in the home, you should adhere to certain rules. Before the massage it is good to warm up the knee. For this purpose, you can do a warm bath or to hold the knee under a hot shower, but to abuse the procedure is not followed. For effective massage needs to be completed every day, spending 10-15 minutes per session. In massage for gonarthrosis included three main techniques: stroking, kneading, and friction. Movement repeat 3-6 times. If you have a sore one knee, massage and healthy limb.
Therapeutic methods of gonarthrosis from leading experts
The problem of effective treatment of gonarthrosis involved many scientists and doctors. Some of them have already achieved significant results in the fight against dangerous disease. In our country special attention deserve methods of doctor Bubnovskiy and physician-rheumatologist Evdokimenko.
Method Bubnovsky
Doctor of medical Sciences S. M. Bubnovsky, has developed a unique healing complex, which he refused drugs and surgery. The starting point of his method was the factor that gonarthrosis is a reduction in the production of synovial fluid. When lubrication is lost, the joint no longer functions correctly. Treatment for bubnivs'ka involves the use of physical therapy and kinesitherapy. The choice of activities and procedures carried out individually, the doctor focuses on the patient's health status and extent of disease. After examining x-rays, the doctor arranges a treatment plan. When the weak physical condition of the patient is assigned gentle exercise. Over time, they become more complex, and performing them regularly, the patient can expect the following results:
- the normalization of the power of cartilaginous and bony tissues;
- disappearance of pain;
- improving the cellular structure of cartilage tissue;
- full restoration of mobility of the knee.
In addition, Dr. Bubnovsky provides additional guidance. Specialist advice to patients with osteoarthritis to actively swim, attending a therapeutic massage, steam bath. For pain you can take a contrast shower and apply to the sore knee cold compress.
Method Evdokimenko
The doctor-rheumatologist Evdokimenko your approach to the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. In his method used two components: medication and physiotherapy.
For gonarthrosis Evdokimenko uses a number of medications, including:
- nonsteroidal funds, removes the pain syndrome and inflammation;
- intra-articular injections, able to quickly stop the discomfort from happening in the joint of pathological processes;
- chondroprotectors, at the expense of the working components which restores cartilage;
- analgesic gels, ointments and creams;
- the compresses.
To enhance the action of drugs and the integrated effect on the lesion Evdokimenko suggests physiotherapy to do exercises and to use the techniques of manual therapy. If you follow the technique Evdokimenko, and begin treatment at an early stage, it is possible to completely stop the process for 1 year. The 2nd stage of the disease will take several years to bring the joint back to normal and restore its natural mobility. The method Evdokimenko is not used in the treatment of 3rd degree of gonarthrosis. The doctor is not without reason, argues that at this stage the patient surgical intervention. Among the specific recommendations from Evdokimenko included advice to follow a diet and to balance your diet to improve metabolism and help the tissues and cartilage of the joint to obtain all useful elements.
How to build power in gonarthrosis?
The task of the patient with excess weight to build your diet, make sure you have products that are low in calories and a rich set of nutrients. Sharp refusal of food by starvation helps you lose weight, but it also creates a stressful situation for the body and can worsen the situation.
Approximate daily menu for gonarthrosis might look like this:
- Breakfast. Oatmeal in water (no salt or sugar), 1 boiled egg and a glass of fruit juice.
- The second Breakfast. 1 Cup low-fat yogurt (natural).
- Lunch. Steamed vegetables with a slice of meat or fish low-fat varieties. Unsweetened tea.
- An afternoon snack. Cheese casserole. A handful of nuts and 1 Cup of fruit juice.
- Dinner. Salad vegetables, Apple, unsweetened tea.
- A second dinner. 1 Cup 1% or fat-free yogurt.
Mealtime count on your usual regime, but the last meal should be no later than 19 PM.
Prevention against osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a severe and dangerous disease that can change your life for the worse. Treatment of the disease is time consuming, requires the patient to patient and the limitations of habits and nutrition. If you never want to deal with these problems, keep your knees from a young age