The gradual destruction of knee joint structures, followed by the deformation of bone tissue of the beret and femur, is called knee joint arthrosis, symptoms and treatment, as well as the disease development mechanism is similar to other arthrosis (pelvic, ankle). It can be one or bilateral. In the latter case, the disease continues further, since the possibility of recovery is halved and a person faster loses its extension.
The second name of the disease is gonarthrosis (by location). Unlike arthritis, characterized by an acute inflammatory process, gonarthrosis develops chronically and leads to complete joint immobility, only occasionally showing signs of inflammation.
Causes of the disease
Most of the time, knee joint arthrosis (symptoms and treatment) is caused not by a cause but by its combination.
The most common:
- Repeated microtraumas of joint structures associated with a large knee load (characteristics of the profession, professional sport);
- Knee injuries, meniscus damage (after an accident, serious blow);
- The consequence of arthritis, especially in combination with other factors;
- Congenital defects in the development of knee articulation;
- Smooth feet;
- skeleton deformations (spine curvature);
- overweight;
- hormonal changes (menopause, diabetes);
- Long stress on time and others.
You can find out what is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis in this article.
All about knee joint arthralgia to be here.
Knee joint arthrosis symptoms
Depending on the severity of symptoms, the development of the disease is divided into 3 stages. The symptoms of early development of gonarthrosis varies greatly and have no specific details. In the first stage of the pathology, the following signs are possible:
- knee pain during squats, climbing the stairs;
- joint pain after a long load or cooling;
- The knee can hurt at the end of the day or in the morning;
- Inventory and pain in the morning pass after daily work.
In the future, the characteristic symptoms of 2 and 3 stages (by growth) appear:
- The pain becomes acute and prolonged;
- swelling in the joint;
- The appearance of liquid in the joint is possible;
- Among the joint surfaces, it is possible to violate cartilage, meniscus and synovial villi, as a result of which there is marked immobility (it may also pass markedly);
- It is difficult to step on the leg;
- The movement of the joint develops.
The development rate of dystrophic processes and the degree of severity of symptoms depend on the presence or absence of additional traumatic factors.For example, stress or inflammatory processes in the body will accelerate the destructive process.
Pathology diagnosis
For the diagnosis of gonarthrosis, they use it:
- Blood tests (general and biochemical);
- Radiography;
- arthroscopy;
- Ultrasound;
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
The most important diagnostic method to confirm the diagnosis of gonarthrosis is radiography. Although it is not possible to consider the initial stages of the disease and the condition of cartilaginous tissue in X -ray, however, bone changes in the 2nd and 3rd stages are clearly visible. That:
- narrow joint gap;
- Located along the contour of bones, the edges of the border peaks - osteophytes;
- Changes in the periosteum;
- Changing the height of one of the condyle and others.
However, you can consider changes in more detail using arthroscopy. With your help, you can determine the condition of cartilage, menisci, synovial membrane. It is less common due to the possibility of severe joint trauma, because, in fact, this is a mini-operation, consisting of various punctures. Sometimes arthroscopy is used to treat knee joint (if there is a need to remove a piece of broken or meniscus cartilage).
Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging help detect changes in soft tissues of the knee joint with early arthrosis. These methods also show the condition of cartilage, synovial and liquid membrane.
Treatment of knee articulation arthrosis
The symptoms of knee joint arthrosis are well provided to conservative treatment at the early stages. This leads to long term remission. Drug therapy, physical therapy, exercise therapy, massage, folk remedies in the form of distracted ointments and compresses are used. If the methods do not yet give a result and the deformation of the joint continues to develop, the pain intensifies and then use surgical intervention.
The result of treatment depends widely on the person, since only directed daily implementation of therapeutic methods will help maintain performance and quality of life for a long time.
Physiotherapeutic treatment of knee arthrosis according to the identified symptoms
Physiotherapeutic methods have a multidirectional action:
- Relieve/reduce pain;
- restore impaired metabolism in joint structures;
- stimulate the activity of chondrocytes;
- Stop the inflammatory process and more.
Below are the most common physical methods to treat the symptoms of knee joint arthrosis.
| UV exhibition | Eliminates pain | 4-6 Irradiation |
| UHF | Reduces capillar permeability, stimulates exchange in cells, eliminates inflammation | 8–12 Procedures |
| Magnetotherapy | Stimulates cellular immunity and tissue regeneration | 12 sessions |
| Ultraphonophoresis | Increases blood flow, reduces swelling, stimulates the regeneration of chondrocytes | 10-12 Procedures |
In addition to the listed paraffin therapy, in the form of applications, radon baths and hydrogen and dirt sulfide are widely used to treat gonarthrosis.
Exercise Therapy as a means of treating knee articulation arthrosis
LFK classes with gonarthrosis are performed to provide the joint with the smallest load, so you can sit or lie down. The simplest but effective exercise will be the swing of cinnamon as a pendulum. A major effect can be achieved if the load is connected to the foot. In this case, muscle tension or relaxation will be clearly felt.
In a horizontal position, you can simulate a bike lifting your legs and "pedaling". If the physical condition allows (symptoms of knee joint arthrosis) for treatment, it is recommended to use an exercise bike. Such movements act not only in the knee, but also in the hip, as well as in the ankle joint, strengthening all muscle groups.
Massage treatment with symptoms of knee joint arthrosis
With gonarthrosis, massage is prescribed to prevent or eliminate muscle atrophy. Massage movements act on muscle tissue altered in a flower of three.
- Of prolonged inaction within the muscles, the forms of collage. Massage movements destroy them, acting mechanically.
- Stretched movements irritate sensitive receptors in muscle cells. As a result, your innervation is restored and the tone increases.
- In muscle tissue, blood circulation is restored. This enhances metabolic processes in joint structures.
Knee massage is done in the following sequence: first they massage the thigh (caressing, shaking, kneading, caressing). Each movement should be performed 3-4 times. Then proceed to the board. On its sides, caressing and rubbing is used 3-5 times. The blow is made in circular motions and rubbing straight.
Once again, they massage the thigh, the articulation again and again - the thigh. At the next stage, careful curves and extension of the joint (5 to 7 times), as well as tidy rotation with cinnamon and out (5-7 times), are performed. The massage is completed by caressing the knee in the most painful places.
This technique is more effective in warm water - about 38 degrees - or after the bath. The intensity depends on the presence/absence of pain.
Surgical treatment of knee articulation arthrosis
Indications for operation are damage to the meniscus, ligament apparatus, serious damage to joint structures. Most of the time, this occurs in three stages of gonarthrosis when therapy becomes ineffective. Although the operation does not cure knee joint arthrosis, symptoms and treatment significantly reduce its intensity: the pain disappears, the possibility of leg support becomes. After that, long and regular conservative therapy is necessarily prescribed.
Treatment Methods Choose mainly:
- osteotomy;
- Arthroplasty;
- Arthrodesis;
- Endoprostrate.
Treatment of knee arthrosis symptoms with folk remedies
The symptoms of knee joint arthrosis are treated with popular remedies. Obviously, they cannot completely interrupt the process and eliminate existing deformation, but using them as an additional tool, you can eliminate pain, remove swelling, improve mobility. To do this, use creams, friction, ointments, infusions and other external and internal products.
- Take the 5th table. l. Oats (you can grind in a coffee grinder), pour 500 ml of water and boil for 10 to 15 minutes. From the resulting decoction, make the lengths to the knee joint lasting about one hour.
- Mix a part of the hop cones on earth with 4 parts of the Vaseline and rub the knee 3-4 times a day for 2-3 weeks. Then you need to take a break, moving to another tool.
- Mix the crushed grass of hops, a bunker and St. John's grass in one part (for example, 10 g each). Drais and a mixture with 5 parts of the Vaseline and rub in the joint 2 times a day.
- During the day, drink a decoction of pine shoots. For a glass of water, you need 10 g of kidneys. Boil for 5 to 10 minutes, tension.
Characteristics of nutrition and water consumption with knee joint arthrosis
Speaking of the characteristics of a disease such as knee joint arthrosis (symptoms and treatment), popular remedies can also be considered compliance with diet and water consumption. All symptoms are a consequence of metabolic disorders, and metabolism depends directly on food consumed and fluid.Therefore, no conservative treatment will bring benefits if you do not review the diet.
Special attention to food should be given to complete people who are at risk. Reducing the calorie content of the dishes, fractional nutrition, a change in cooking technology - all contributes to a gradual weight loss. In addition, salt should be limited, refined products, fast food and semi -agreed products should be eliminated.
The use of fluids is also important. As arthrosis occurs due to water loss in cartilage, people diagnosed with gonarthrosis need to drink many fluids. In order not to form swelling, you must take care of the timely removal of the excess of the body. You can use diuretics or drugs. You need to drink about 2 liters a day of clean water, avoiding carbonated drinks, coffee or tea.
If you have symptoms of knee joint arthrosis, start treatment immediately. The sooner you start the fight, the more likely to stop destruction. There must be all methods in service to affect the disease on different sides. About 20% of people with this diagnosis were possible, thanks to perseverance and patience. Be healthy!