Arthrosis of the joints is a degenerative (or metabolical) disease, that is, non -inflammatory.But the causes of arthrosis of the joints are not fully studied by official medicine.The versions are put forward that excess weight, age, metabolic disorders in tissues (muscles) and joints, premature wear of the cartilage, small loads, large loads and so on, genetics and so on contribute to arthrosis.That is, it is not clear what to influence in order to effectively treat and prevent arthrosis of the knee joint.
In fact, (and this is confirmed by evidence -based medical literature and experience), arthrosis is a consequence of the disease of interested (muscles that spread through a specific joint) muscles.The sick muscles in a state of constant compression carry excess pressure on the joint, causing its increased wear.
Arthrosis of the knee joint - what is it?
The arthrosis of the knee (like any other) joint is differently called deforming osteo arthrosis (that is, the degeneration of cartilage and bone) is the progressive degenerative -dystrophic lesion of the cartilaginous and bone (near cartilage) tissue, its erasure and reduction, which leads to the dysfunction of the joint (limiting mobility in the joint) and causes mobility)Sensations of varying degrees of intensity.
By simple, this is the wear of the joint, it means that the wear of the cartilaginous fabric, which should ensure a smooth sliding of the articular surfaces relative to each other, and the bone structures on which the cartilage is located.This whole process is accompanied by a narrowing of the intermediary space and the loss of elasticity of the ligamentous apparatus.
Arthrosis of the knee joint: Symptoms
Very often, the disease proceeds asymptomatic, and it can only be detected on an MRI.In its “mature” stage of the disease, it can make itself felt by enhancing pains in the problem area and motor restrictions in the joint.At the same time, arthrosis is a common problem and occurs in 70% of all joint lesions.It is impossible to call the cause of the development of the disease, but there are certain factors that most often become a catalyst for arthrosis.
The main symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint include:
- Pain in the knee joint of different intensity and duration
- The stiffness of the knee joint is the inability to completely straighten or bend the leg in the knee joint (sometimes it is impossible to squat down)
- Clicks and crunching in the knee joint.It is believed that the joint loses the liquid, and the articular surfaces slide relatively relative to each other, this may be accompanied by a characteristic sound
Arthrosis of the knee joint: Reasons
However, narrow -profile experts believe that the main cause of arthrosis of the joints is myofascial syndrome, which is manifested by a disease of muscles that overlap through an interested joint (trigger points).
The trigger point is a voltage focus in muscle fibers, which is activated under certain conditions and is manifested by acute pain.It is precisely by trigger points that the myofascial syndrome is recognized.In the event of trigger points, the elasticity of the muscle is lost, due to which the mobility of the joint decreases.They arise as a result of injury, as well as with intensive or chronic muscle overload, prolonged stay in a immobilized state.
The muscles are in a state of contracting (constant compression) and this excess compression is on the interested joint (in our case, the knee joint).
Arthrosis of the knee joint and arthritis, what's the difference?
To understand the cause and nature of the course of the disease, it is very important to determine the difference between arthrosis and arthritis.Their main difference is that the nature of arthrosis is not inflammatory, while arthritis is an inflammatory pathology.At the same time, inflammatory processes are systemic in nature and spread to the whole organism.
Arthrosis is a metabolic pathology caused by metabolic disorders in the body.Pain syndrome in arthrosis occurs in combined conditions - trigger points and various articular disorders.The elimination of trigger points will lead, if not to complete recovery, then to a significant improvement in the general condition.
The main criterion of the arthritis of the knee joint is the presence of an inflammation agent - that is, the virus, infection, fungus, bacteria.Moreover, there can be any place of localization of an infectious agent.Often gonorrhea or other sexual infections can go into a chronic form and give complications to the joints.
With arthritis of the knee joint, redness of the skin around the joints, swelling and the increase in joints in volumes are observed, an increase in temperature of the whole body and the locally joint is observed.With arthrosis of the knee joint, these symptoms are usually not.However, arthrosis and arthritis can be found combined.
4 stages of arthrosis of the knee joint
If, if arthrosis is detected, not to start its comprehensive treatment, over time the disease will begin to progress, and the symptoms will aggravate.Timely diagnosis and proper therapy, which to effectively combine with other methods of treatment, will significantly improve the general condition of the patient and prevent prolonged, painful and expensive treatment.
The 3 (4) stages of the development of arthrosis of the knee joint are officially distinguished:
- 1 degree.This is a time period from the appearance of the first symptoms of arthrosis to its visible manifestations, which can already be detected during the initial examination or in an x -ray.The patient's condition is characterized by painful sensations of different intensity that occur during movement.
- 2 degree.The patient experiences discomfort and “shooting” pain at even minor loads.Human movements can be accompanied by a crunch in the knee when walking, squats, etc.It is possible to reduce the mobility of the knee joint.The area affected by arthrosis visually looks deformed and increased in size.
- 3 degree.There is practically no cartilage tissue inside the joint.With a particularly advanced form, complete immobilization of the limb may occur.It is difficult for the patient to take a situation in which he would be comfortable, moving without auxiliary means becomes almost impossible.
- Also, the 4th stage of arthrosis of the knee joint can be distinguished separately.This condition is complete destruction, which leads to the fact that the joint completely loses its functionality.At the same time, the patient experiences the “blockade of the joint” - acute pain syndrome.
Diagnosis of arthrosis of the knee joint
Arthrosis is a chronic disease, the treatment of which is comprehensive and regular.Therefore, timely diagnosis and proper therapy will allow the patient to minimize damage to the joint of the knee joint.
The diagnosis of arthrosis is also complicated by the fact that the disease can very often be asymptomatic.However, in the presence of painful sensations, the doctor after examination may prescribe radiography.And although its results can not always be indicative, they give a general idea of how much the disease has “advanced forward”.
More accurate data can be obtained, thanks to modern diagnostic methods - ultrasound, MRI, etc.
However, not always found changes in MRI correspond to the sensations and complaints of the patient.It happens that in the picture of the knee joint there is degenerative-dystrophic changes in both the cartilage itself and meniscus and ligaments, but there are no complaints at all.And vice versa, there are pain and other symptoms, and on the examination sheet everything is normal.
Recall that with arthrosis of the knee joint, it is important to diagnose the hip muscles (muscles of the lower leg, the quadriceps of the thigh) for the presence of myofascial trigger points, which in 80% of cases give pain and lead to changes in the pictures of the joint.
Important: if the patient has psoriasis, then arthrosis can be psoriatic genesis.
Ineffective methods of treating arthrosis of the knee joint
All official methods of treating arthrosis are divided into:
- non -pharmacological;
- pharmacological;
- Surgical.
Surgical intervention is a measure necessary at the advanced stage of the disease.The operation is carried out to replace the destroyed joint with a synthetic analogue.
Practicing doctors, as a rule, prescribe various physiotherapists and exercise therapy (physiotherapy physical education) to treat arthrosis of the knee joint.However, strength exercises only exacerbate the course of the disease, activating trigger points, increasing pain, etc.Therefore, this method of therapy is ineffective.
Khondroprotectors deserve special attention.It is believed that drugs of this class restore cartilage.Firstly, the evidence base of these drugs is dubious in nature, because these studies of these expensive drugs are carried out by the manufacturers themselves.Secondly, it is symptomatic treatment, that is, it is aimed at the investigation, not the reason.The reason is the muscle disease.
Arthrosis of the joints is a degenerative disease, that is, not inflammatory.But the causes of arthrosis of the joints are not fully studied by official medicine.
The versions are put forward that excess weight, age, metabolic disorders in tissues (muscles) and joints, premature wear of the cartilage, small loads, large loads and so on, genetics and so on contribute to arthrosis.That is, it is not clear what to influence in order to effectively treat and prevent arthrosis of the knee joint.
In fact, (and this is confirmed by evidence -based medical literature and experience), arthrosis is a consequence of the disease of interested (muscles that are thrown through a specific joint) muscles.The sick muscles in a state of constant compression carry excess pressure on the joint, causing its increased wear.
Effective treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint
Proper therapy of arthrosis of the knee joint should be systemic and complex.It is based precisely on the treatment of muscles and includes taking drugs (for adjusting aggravating and harmful factors for MFS), and properly selected physiotherapy of the knee joint and hip muscles) and, of course, myofascial massage.
The most effective methods for treating TT are:
- deep stroking massage;
- Glating trigger points
- Shock wave therapy
- Postisometric relaxation.
In addition to the anterior thigh muscle, massage is also made on the muscles in Synergists and antagonists.At the same time, the patella himself is not massaged - the massage specialist makes the main emphasis precisely on the muscles.
The main massage "device" is the hands of the master.For self -massage, various devices are used that contribute to increasing the effectiveness of the procedure.
Exercise therapy for arthrosis of the knee joint
The final stage of therapy is the performance of exercises for stretching the upper (front) surface of the thigh.It is important that you feel the tension in the place where you massage.
When prescribing and performing physiotherapy exercises with arthrosis of the knee joint, it is important to understand the basic principle - that is, why these exercises are performed (for what purpose).The main goal is to stretch all the abbreviated muscle fibers (cramps) so that the muscle can completely stretch in its anatomical volume of movement.
Prevention of arthrosis of the knee joint
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 should be balanced and rich in trace elements, protein 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 its traumatic damage.If the muscle is in a static position for a long time - this contributes to the formation of triggers;
- Refusal of bad habits: lead a healthy lifestyle, follow your weight;
- Complex therapy: combine popular methods of treatment with auxiliary.
Auxiliary methods of treating arthrosis of the knee joint
The treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint will be especially effective if it is combined with auxiliary methods of therapy.Consider the most popular of them.
- Laser therapy.This procedure is considered the most popular and common among patients suffering from arthrosis of the knee joint.The therapeutic effect is achieved due to the reflex expansion of the blood vessels above the focus of the pathological process in the muscle.This contributes to the normalization of metabolism (do not forget, arthrosis is a metabolic disease) and helps to reduce the pain syndrome.
- Cryotherapy.This method is not as popular as the previous one.However, its effectiveness is quite high.Due to the local exposure to low temperatures, the pain in the problem area is significantly reduced and the formation of biologically active substances slows down, leading to the aggravation of the disease.Cryotherapy procedures contribute to the activation of blood flow and recovery processes in the joint.
- Balneotherapy.It is carried out in sanatorium-resort conditions.Aquarius of arthrosis 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 self -massage will improve the general condition with arthrosis and minimize the possible risks of complete destruction of the joint.The main thing is to adhere to the recommendations of experts, follow the preventive measures and combine the main therapy with other treatment methods.