Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (osteoarthritis) is a complex disease of the degenerative-dystrophic type, during the development of which processes involving the bone and cartilage tissue of the knee occur.
Pathological changes in joint tissues, which negatively affect the musculoskeletal potential of the lower extremities. Progression of osteoarthritis of the knee leads to mobility difficulties, loss of stability and a significant reduction in motor and cushioning ability.
What should be done to maintain the mobility of your own body for many years and what to do if the osteoarthritis of the knee joint has reduced indicators of physical activity and quality of life? Let’s try to understand this difficult question.
Features of the development of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
Osteoarthritis of the knee- This is a common pathology that belongs to the category of the most common diseases that have a very negative impact on people's quality of life.
Degenerative-dystrophic processes are most clearly manifested in the form of physical dysfunction of the legs, followed by a strong pain syndrome. Depending on how strongly the pathological process progresses, further prognoses of the course of the disease are built.
One of the disappointing prognoses is lower extremity paralysis. The severity of the consequences of pathological processes requires seeking qualified medical care.
What causes knee osteoarthritis?
Much research has been needed to identify the causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Long-term examinations of patients and thorough study of the clinical picture of pathology have allowed experts to conclude that the impact of a number of negative factors is the underlying cause of destruction of joint tissues, causing severe pain and inflammation.
Among the main reasons that lead to degenerative-dystrophic processes, it is worth noting:
- Acquired injuries - bruising, sprain or fracture of the knee automatically classifies a person at risk and can cause the development of the disease. Damage to the joint implies its fixation, and long-term immobility is a direct path to the development of arthrosis;
- strong physical activity - strong stress on the knees (especially in the elderly) leads to microtrauma, which also leads to the development of negative pathological processes;
- insufficiently strong ligament apparatus - abnormal mobility of the joints also negatively affects their condition, which manifests itself mainly in old age;
- being overweight - being overweight can cause irreparable damage to the knee joints, as the likelihood of meniscus injuries in this case is incredibly high. If high 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 - failure in the metabolism of nutrients and elements in the body causes the development of various types of diseases, which is due to insufficient supply of various tissues, especially bone and cartilage;
- increased level of stress - worries and experiences negatively affect not only the mood of people, but also the level of physical well-being.
Typical symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee
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 deciding who to seek help from and how to treat osteoarthritis of the knee, it is important to get acquainted with the symptoms of the disease.
Only a specialist competent in this matter can identify the presence and confirm the diagnosis by prescribing treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. However, every patient should know the main symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee, among which it is common to distinguish:
- pain - discomfort that gradually develops into painful sensations does not appear immediately. Their insignificant manifestation in the knees can torment a person for many years, but at some point they can become stronger and will not stop at rest;
- cracking - "clicks" during bending / extension of the joint are a wake-up call, which manifests itself in the second, third phase of the disease;
- synovitis - inflammation of the joint membrane, in which fluid accumulates, leading to local swelling;
- deformity is a characteristic feature that manifests itself in the last stages of the disease, followed by pronounced inflammation and swelling.
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee
Diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee is performed by an orthopedist or rheumatologist. If you want to undergo a diagnostic examination, each patient can turn to a therapist who will refer a specialist to a narrow profile or take a ticket from one of them.
The main diagnostic tool for specialists is, of course, the X-ray machine. Thanks to the recorded image, you can monitor not only the presence of pathology, but also the degree of its development.
It is important to note that the X-ray eliminates the possibility of the presence of other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
X-ray examination opens the possibility for specialists to:
- monitor the narrowing of the joint space;
- reveal the seal in the joint tissues.
The combination of clinical symptoms and information obtained from the image enables quality diagnosis and diagnosis, with the definition of further treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Degree of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
Modern medicine divides osteoarthritis of the knee into several stages, according to the nature of the development of pathological processes.
To begin with, it is worth noting that, according to observations, the disease can be of different natures:
- one-sided (right-handed / left-handed);
- bilateral.
In addition, the pathological process has three stages of development, each of which has its own clinical picture.
1 degree of arthrosis of the knee joint
The initial phase in the development of pathology, whose successful diagnosis is an incredible success not only for the patient, but also for the doctor.
The peculiarity of the stage of development of arthrosis at this stage is the absence of clinical signs and vivid symptoms. Disease identification can be done by clinical examination or by studying another disease.
Evidence of 1st degree knee osteoarthritis may be:
- local discomfort in the knee area during prolonged walking;
- mild pain that disappears during rest.
It is important to mention the fact that pain can be felt in one or both joints of the lower extremities.
It is interesting to note that left-sided gonarthrosis is often diagnosed in left-handed people, while right-sided gonarthrosis is typical for people who play various sports.
2nd degree arthrosis of the knee joint
Symptoms of the second stage of pathology are accompanied by an expansion of signs, which usually include:
- severe pain syndrome;
- stiffness and severe discomfort in the knee joint;
- atrophy of muscles located near the knee joint, which is caused by tissue damage;
- increased pain;
- visually noticeable joint deformity;
- mobility restriction.
Expansion of symptomatology simplifies the diagnostic process. The changes characteristic of the 2nd degree of arthrosis of the knee joint are easily followed by palpation. During the clinical examination, the specialist easily detects an abnormal mass in the knee area.
3 degree arthrosis of the knee joint
It is almost impossible not to notice the pathology of the third degree, because the patient is facing constant pain. In addition, the progression of the disease reaches a critical level, which is manifested by the strongest deformity of the joint, where the limb completely loses the ability to bend / stretch.
Lack of proper treatment leads to complete destruction of cartilage and as a result the development of ankylosis (joining of articular bones).
The only solution to the final stage of disease development is expensive surgery, which involves removing the remnants of cartilage tissue or replacing the joint.
How to treat osteoarthritis of the knee?
The level of modern medicine is at a high enough level, which ensures successful treatment of diseases of various kinds. Knee osteoarthritis is no exception.
Today, there are a number of methods for treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
In the initial stages of pathology development, mostly conservative treatment methods are used. Conservative therapy includes:
- physiotherapy procedures;
- physiotherapy exercises (exercise therapy);
- attending various massages.
Also, progressive methods of treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint are actively used. Among the modern effective methods of dealing with dangerous pathology, there are:
- ozone therapy - the 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, which aims to increase its mobility and increase blood flow.
Treatment of knee osteoarthritis with physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is one of the most popular treatments for knee osteoarthritis.
Methods of physical impact, under a number of conditions, have the most positive effect on the zone of localization of pathologies of different species.
Physiotherapy includes procedures such as:
- electrophoresis;
- ultraphonophoresis;
- laser / infrared radiation;
- pulsed magnetotherapy.
The efficiency of the procedure is individual and depends on the quality of the development of the patient's main treatment plan.
Massage as a treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee
Massage is a useful addition to the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Most experts around the world believe that massage is a mandatory component in the treatment of symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, which has a beneficial effect on metabolic processes and helps speed up recovery.
Knee massage can be performed both at home and inside the walls of the hospital. The main thing during the massage is to pre-heat the joint with quality and adhere to the optimal duration of the process (from 10-15 minutes).
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with massage should include techniques such as caressing, rubbing and kneading.
Gymnastics and exercise therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee
Exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee is an effective way to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and treat the disease.
The process of treating knee osteoarthritis is quite a complicated and time consuming process, and physiotherapy exercises are a great helper in achieving the desired result.
The type of exercise therapy and exercises for osteoarthritis of the knee joint is selected by a specialist on an individual basis, depending on the stage of development of the pathology and the general condition of the patient's physical ability.
The main principle of gymnastics for osteoarthritis of the knee joint sounds like: no increased stress on the affected joint, only rational, calm actions.
Drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
Medical treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee 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 different forms of release (ointments / gels, tablets or injections, plaster).
Bitan! Each 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 lead to extremely negative consequences, especially - paralysis of the lower limbs and disability.
Pain medications for osteoarthritis of the knee
They are used to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Painkillers in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee play an important role, because their use improves the patient's condition and gives him the opportunity to rest well.
Pain relief is achieved by the action of active substances.
Antispasmodicswith osteoarthritis of the knee
Awarded as active assistance. The key area of action is the fight against cramps.
The active substances that make up the preparations help to relax the muscular frame and relieve pain.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with drugs of this type provides not only the removal of pain, but also slowing down, completely eliminating the progress of pathological processes.
Regular medication allows you to observe a constant concentration of active ingredients, which guarantees a positive effect.
Chondroprotectors for osteoarthritis of the knee
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 trace elements included in the composition, which are an integral part of the process of building cartilage tissue.
The peculiarity of the principle of action of drugs presupposes a rather long, but at the same time effective process of resolving osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Diet and general dietary recommendations for osteoarthritis of the knee joint
A diet for osteoarthritis of the knee is necessary for overweight patients. A low-calorie diet and a wealth of nutrients will ensure weight loss and speed up the recovery of affected joints.
The diet for osteoarthritis of the knee joint must first and foremost be balanced. The daily diet should contain meals enriched with useful vitamins and microelements necessary for the regeneration of joint tissues and maintaining the balance of the whole organism.
It is recommended to give up not only bad habits (alcohol abuse and smoking), but also such dishes as:
- store semi-finished products;
- fatty, spicy and too salty foods;
- sweet fizzy drinks.
For practicality and competent harmonization of diet, in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, it is recommended to keep a diet 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 risk of pathology;
- secondary- aim to reduce the rate of development of existing diseases.
The primary ones are:
- increased attention to the joints of the lower extremities;
- playing sports, in order to strengthen the periarticular muscles;
- maintaining optimal body weight;
- swimming.
Secondary prevention includes:
- systematic course of treatment with chondroprotectors;
- timely seeking qualified medical attention when signs of arthritis appear.
Remember that early detection of the disease significantly increases the probability of complete cure.
Do not neglect going to the doctor if you have the slightest symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee.