Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (osteoarthritis) is a complex degenerative-dystrophic disease, during which processes occur that affect the bone-cartilaginous tissues of the knee.
Pathological changes in joint tissues, negatively affecting the musculoskeletal potential of the lower extremities. The progression of osteoarthritis of the knee leads to difficulty in mobility, loss of stability and a significant decrease in motor capacity and shock absorption.
What should be done to maintain the mobility of one's own body for many years and what to do if the indicators of physical activity and the level of quality of life have decreased due to osteoarthritis of the knee joint? Let's try to understand this difficult subject.
Features of the development of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
Knee osteoarthritis- This is a common pathology that belongs to the category of the most common diseases that have an extremely negative impact on the quality of human life.
Degenerative-dystrophic processes are most clearly manifested in the form of physical dysfunction of the legs, accompanied by a severe pain syndrome. Depending on how strongly the pathological process progresses, more prognoses of the course of the disease are constructed.
One of the disappointing prognoses is paralysis of the lower extremities. The severity of the consequences of pathological processes requires seeking qualified medical attention.
What causes lead to knee osteoarthritis?
To identify the causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, a lot of research was required. Long-term examinations of patients and a comprehensive study of the clinical picture of the pathology allowed specialists to conclude that the influence of a number of negative factors is the main cause of the destruction of joint tissues, which causes severe pain and swelling
Among the main reasons that lead to degenerative-dystrophic processes, it is worth highlighting:
- suffered injuries: a knee bruise, dislocation or fracture automatically classifies a person as a risk group and can cause the development of the disease. Damage to the joint involves its fixation, and long-term immobility is a direct path to the formation of osteoarthritis;
- strong physical activity - intense stress on the knees (especially in older people) leads to microtraumas, which also leads to the development of negative pathological processes;
- Insufficiently strong ligamentous apparatus - abnormal joint mobility also negatively affects its condition, which manifests itself mainly in old age;
- Overweight: extra pounds can cause irreparable damage to the knee joints, because the probability of meniscus injuries in this case is incredibly high. If a large weight is accompanied by varicose veins, there is a high probability of developing severe forms of arthrosis of the joints of the lower extremities;
- metabolic disorders - a failure in the metabolism of nutrients and elements in the body provokes the development of various types of diseases, which are due to insufficient supply of various tissues, in particular bones and cartilage;
- Increased stress levels: Worries and experiences negatively affect not only people's moods, but also their level of physical well-being.
Typical symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Symptomatic manifestation of the disease allows you to timely monitor the onset and development of pathological processes, which gives each patient the opportunity to recover.
Before determining who to seek help and how to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is important to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of the disease.
Only a competent specialist in this matter can identify the presence and confirm the diagnosis by prescribing a treatment for knee osteoarthritis. However, every patient should know the main symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, among which it is customary to distinguish:
- pain - discomfort that gradually turns into painful sensations does not appear immediately. Their insignificant manifestation on the knees can bother a person for many years, but at some point they can become stronger and will not stop in a calm state;
- crunch - "clicks" during flexion / extension of the joint are a wake-up call, manifesting itself already in the second, third stage of the disease;
- synovitis - inflammation of the joint membrane, in which fluid accumulates, leading to local swelling;
- Deformation is a characteristic feature that manifests itself in the later stages of the disease, accompanied by pronounced inflammation and swelling.
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint is performed by an orthopedist or rheumatologist. If you want to undergo a diagnostic examination, each patient can go to a therapist who will either give a referral to a narrow-profile specialist or take a ticket to one of them on their own.
The main diagnostic tool for specialists is, of course, the X-ray apparatus. Thanks to the image taken, you can track not only the presence of pathology, but also the degree of its development.
It is important to note that X-rays eliminate the likelihood of the presence of other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
The X-ray examination opens the opportunity for a specialist to:
- trace joint space narrowing;
- detect a seal in joint tissues.
The combination of clinical symptoms and information obtained from the image provides a high-quality diagnosis and diagnosis, with the definition of further treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
The degree of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Modern medicine divides osteoarthritis of the knee into various degrees, according to the nature of the development of pathological processes.
To begin with, it is worth noting that, based on observations, the disease may be of a different nature:
- unilateral (right / left handed);
- bilateral.
In addition, the pathological process has three stages of development, each of which has its own clinical picture.
1 degree of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
The initial stage in the development of pathology, the successful diagnosis of which is an incredible success not only for the patient, but also for the attending physician.
The peculiarity of the degree of development of arthrosis at this stage is the absence of vivid clinical signs and symptoms. Identification of a medical condition can be made during a clinical examination or in the study of another disease.
Evidence of 1st degree knee joint osteoarthritis may be:
- local discomfort in the knee area during a long walk;
- mild pain that goes away during rest.
It is important to take into account the fact that pain can be felt in one or both joints of the lower extremities.
It is interesting to note that left-sided knee osteoarthritis is often diagnosed in left-handed people, while right-sided knee osteoarthritis is typical of people associated with various sports.
2 degrees of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Symptoms of the second degree of development of the pathology are accompanied by an expansion of the signs, which usually include:
- pronounced pain syndrome;
- stiffness and severe discomfort in the knee joint;
- atrophy of the muscles located near the knee joint, which is caused by tissue damage;
- increased pain;
- visually perceptible deformation of the joint;
- limitation of mobility.
The expansion of symptoms simplifies the diagnostic process. The characteristic changes of the second degree of osteoarthritis of the knee joint are easy to follow during palpation. During a clinical examination, a specialist easily detects an abnormal mass in the knee area.
3 degrees of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
It is almost impossible not to notice the pathology of the third degree, because the patient is faced with constant pain. In addition, the progress of the disease reaches a critical level, which is manifested by the strongest deformity of the joint, in which the limb completely loses the ability to bend / extend.
Lack of proper treatment leads to complete destruction of cartilage and, as a result, to the development of ankylosis (fusion of joint bones).
The only solution for the final degree of development of the disease is an expensive surgical intervention, which involves the removal of the remains of cartilage tissue or the replacement of a joint.
How to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint?
The level of modern medicine is at a sufficiently high level, which guarantees the successful treatment of diseases of various types. Knee osteoarthritis is no exception.
Today, there are a large number of methods to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
At the initial stages of the development of pathology, predominantly conservative treatment methods are used. Conservative therapy includes:
- physiotherapy procedures;
- physical therapy exercises (exercise therapy);
- visiting various massages.
In addition, progressive methods are actively used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Among the modern and effective methods of treating a dangerous pathology, there are the following:
- ozone therapy: a local effect of ozone on affected joint tissues. Helps reduce pain and stop inflammation. Improves blood circulation in the problem area;
- Kinesitherapy is a set of exercises for osteoarthritis of the knee joint, the objective of which is to increase its mobility and increase blood flow.
Treatment of knee osteoarthritis with physiotherapy.
Physical therapy is one of the most popular treatments for knee osteoarthritis.
Methods of physical influence, subject to a certain number of conditions, have the most positive effect on the zone of localization of pathologies of various types.
Physical therapy includes procedures such as:
- electrophoresis;
- ultraphonophoresis;
- laser / infrared irradiation;
- pulse magnetotherapy.
The effectiveness of the procedures is individual and depends on the quality of the development of the patient's primary treatment plan.
Massage as a treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Massage is a useful addition to the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
Most experts around the world are of the opinion that massage is a mandatory component of the treatment of the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, which has a beneficial effect on metabolic processes and helps to speed up recovery.
Knee massage can be performed both at home and within the walls of a hospital. The main thing during massage is high-quality preliminary warming of the joint and adherence to the optimal duration of the process (10-15 minutes).
Treatment of knee osteoarthritis with massage should include techniques such as stroking, rubbing, and kneading.
Gymnastics and exercise therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee joint is an effective way to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and treat the disease.
The process of treating osteoarthritis of the knee is quite a complicated and long process, and physical therapy exercises are an excellent assistant in achieving the desired result.
The type of exercise therapy and exercises for osteoarthritis of the knee joint are selected by a specialist individually, depending on the degree of development of the pathology and the general state of the physical condition of the patient.
The fundamental principle of gymnastics for osteoarthritis of the knee joint sounds like this: it does not increase the stress on the affected joint, only rational and calm actions.
Medicines for treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
The medical treatment of knee osteoarthritis is used to relieve symptoms such as pain and swelling, as well as to activate regenerative processes.
Preparations for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint can have a different form of release (ointments / gels, tablets or injections, plaster).
Important! Any medication must be prescribed by a specialist as part of an existing treatment plan designed for the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Self-medication is unacceptable and can have extremely negative consequences, in particular: lower limb paralysis and disability.
Analgesics for osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
They are used to eliminate the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Painkillers in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint play an important role, because their use improves the patient's well-being and gives him the opportunity to have a good night's rest.
Pain relief is achieved through the action of active substances.
Antispasmodicswith knee osteoarthritis
Assigned as active assistance. A key area of activity is fighting spasms.
The active substances that make up the preparations help to relax the muscle structure and relieve pain.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with drugs of this type provides not only the elimination of pain, but also the slowdown and complete elimination of the progress of pathological processes.
Regular intake of drugs allows you to observe a constant concentration of active ingredients, which ensures a positive effect.
Chondroprotectors for osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
The main helpers in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint with drugs are chondroprotectors.
The active action of chondroprotectors in osteoarthritis of the knee joint is aimed at restoring motor ability, which is due to the microelements included in the composition, which are an integral component in the process of building cartilage tissue.
The peculiarity of the principle of action of drugs assumes a rather long, but at the same time effective process, to get rid of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Diet and general nutritional recommendations for osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Diet for osteoarthritis of the knee joint is necessary for overweight patients. A low-calorie and nutrient-rich diet will ensure a decrease in body weight and accelerate the recovery of the affected joints.
Nutrition for osteoarthritis of the knee joint must, first of all, be balanced. The daily diet should contain meals enriched with useful vitamins and microelements necessary for the regeneration of joint tissues and the maintenance of the balance of the whole body.
It is recommended to give up not only bad habits (alcohol abuse and smoking), but also dishes such as:
- store semi-finished products;
- fatty, spicy and overly salty foods;
- Sweet carbonated drinks.
For the convenience and competent alignment of the diet, in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, it is recommended to keep a food diary, which disciplines and helps to facilitate the process of restructuring the usual way of life.
Prevention of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
The whole range of preventive measures can be divided into two groups:
- primary- aim to reduce the risks of pathology;
- secondary- aim to reduce the rate of development of an existing disease.
The main ones are:
- increased attention to the joints of the lower extremities;
- playing sports, to strengthen the periarticular muscles;
- maintain optimal body weight;
- swimming.
Secondary prevention includes:
- a systematic course of treatment with chondroprotectors;
- Seek qualified medical help promptly when signs of arthritis appear.
Remember that early detection of a disease significantly increases the probability of a complete cure.
Do not forget to go to the doctor if you have the slightest symptom of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.