Currently, there are no drugs that can permanently eliminate gonarthrosis.However, it is quite possible to slow down its development and significantly reduce the pain syndrome.
For this use:
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- pain relievers;
- chondroprotectors to ensure cartilage tissue regeneration;
- non-drug methods (physiotherapy, manual therapy, physical therapy);
- traditional medicine recipes.
Diet and spa treatment also play an important role in the fight against the disease.If conservative treatment fails, surgical intervention is recommended.
Therapeutic exercise for arthrosis of the knee joint
Therapeutic gymnastics is quite effective in the fight against gonarthrosis.Its complex consists of three parts: introduction, main and conclusion.The first involves performing breathing exercises and walking, repeated 5-6 times.
In the main part, exercises are performed using the following starting positions: sitting on a chair, lying on the back and side, as well as standing next to the gymnastic wall.6-8 repetitions are performed in each situation.
In the final part, do exercises while standing next to the chair and exercise on the exercise bike for two to three minutes using a slow to moderate pace.The complex ends with the restoration of breath.
When doing therapeutic exercises regularly:
- pain in the knee joints decreases;
- stiffness of movements disappears and their amplitude increases;
- muscle spasms are relieved;
- blood circulation accelerates;
- sudden increases in pressure in the joints are prevented.
Water gymnastics
Many people suffering from gonarthrosis cannot exercise regularly because it causes severe pain.In such cases, it is recommended to do water gymnastics to facilitate the exercise.
Exercise in water:
- removes excess weight and reduces the load on the injured knee;
- relieves tension in the legs;
- increases joint mobility;
- massages the skin, thereby improving blood circulation and the general condition of the body.
When the pain subsides, walk in the water to strengthen the muscle corset.It is necessary to ensure that the painful leg remains in the correct position during exercise.
To reduce the manifestations of the disease, water gymnastics should include:
- active movements of the legs (including swings in different directions, as well as circular and oscillatory movements);
- to squat;
- bend the legs at the knees.
A set of exercises
When doing therapeutic exercises for arthrosis, you should follow the following rules:
- All exercises are performed at a slow and smooth pace with a gradual increase in amplitude.Sharp swings are strictly contraindicated: instead of benefiting, they can worsen the patient's condition.
- Training takes place in a sitting or lying position.
- If there is pain, stop the activity.In this case, it is advisable to consult your doctor.
- Training should be regular (several times a day), but short-term (a few minutes for each pose).
The following complex will give an effective result:
- Lie on your back, stretch your heels forward and pull your toes towards you.This position will eliminate muscle spasms and accelerate metabolism in the lower limbs.
- "Vertical scissor" - you need to lie on your back and alternately raise and lower your legs by bending them at the hip joints.
- Sit in a high chair and swing your lower limbs.There should be no effort.The amplitude of swings should be small.
- Lie on your back, bend your lower limbs at the hip and knee joints at the same time.Bend and straighten your knees.
- Lying on your stomach, alternately raise and lower your extended lower limbs.No need to pull a toe.
- "Horizontal scissors" - lie on your back, raise your legs at a right angle.Alternately spread and retract the lower limbs.
- Bend and straighten your knees from a lying position.
- Sleep next to you.Lift your straightened lower limbs up and down.
- Lying on your stomach, alternately bend and straighten your legs at the knee joints.
- Lie on your back and imagine that you are riding a bicycle.Bend and straighten your legs at the knees and hips.
Massage for knee arthrosis
It is advisable to start manual therapy after the complex of therapeutic and preventive physical training.You can follow your massage with a hot shower or a visit to the steam room or sauna.These movements will help to warm up the muscles and increase the effectiveness of the procedure.Massage in water heated to 37°C will have the same effect.
Even a few sessions of such therapy will significantly improve the patient's condition.But for the results to be permanent, you must complete the full course.To get the maximum effect, the procedure should be performed by a specialist - a chiropractor.But you can also do self-massage using detailed instructions.
When massaging, use both ordinary massage oils and creams, as well as ointments specially designed for the treatment of gonarthrosis.The movements of the massage therapist must strictly correspond to the course of the lymphatic vessels.The procedure should not cause pain or discomfort.
When fighting the disease, not only manual local massage, but also mechanical vibration massage is used.With a sponge and a spiked attachment, you can add with vibrating movements.
Implementation techniques
Currently, chiropractors for knee arthrosis use four well-known massage systems - Russian, Eastern, Swedish and Finnish.
Each technique has characteristic differences:
- Eastern technique is aimed at freeing the muscles from venous blood and improving the motor function of the articular surfaces.
- The Swedish technique has the strongest effect on gonarthrosis of the knee joint.It uses striking and rubbing movements performed simultaneously with the movements of the joints.This approach ensures good stretching of the muscles and neurovascular connections and reduces compressions in the tissues.
- The Finnish technique is similar to the Swedish technique, but differs in that only the thumbs are used to knead the skin.
When massaging, they use several basic techniques in combination with each other.Typically, all such procedures begin and end with a stroke performed with the entire palm.They are aimed at relaxing muscles, improving blood circulation, relieving tension and activating lymph flow.
One common method of massaging the knees is friction.It provides stretching and relaxation of muscles and ligaments, accelerates blood and lymph movement.During the friction process, deposits are absorbed and removed from the joints, thereby improving their mobility.
The main method of hand therapy for gonarthrosis is kneading.It is done by gently pressing on the skin.Kneading allows the massage therapist to affect the deepest layers of the skin.After the procedure, tissue nutrition improves, muscles tone, gain strength and flexibility.
Another technique used in massage is vibration - shaking the skin and muscles.With its help, the vibration is transmitted to the deep tissues.The session consists of three stages: introduction, main and final.Only light, slow pressure is applied during the first and last parts.In the middle of the procedure, after preparing the tissues and muscles, the most intensive manipulations are performed.
Massage technique
Manual therapy of knee arthrosis involves kneading not only the knee, but also other parts of the body.Manipulations are first carried out in the lower part of the spine, and then move to the thigh muscles.During the session, tapping and squeezing methods are used.The latter is performed using the ridges of the fists and the edges of the palms.Each manipulation is repeated 3-4 times.They always end with shaking and caressing the skin.
After developing the thigh muscles, massage the painful joint.First, they make circular strokes on the sides, and then resort to different types of friction.Then they massage the thigh area again.The number of repetitions decreases.Massage the knee and thigh several times alternately.The chiropractor then gently flexes and stretches the patient's lower limb and rotates the lower leg.After the active movements of the leg, the thigh and knee are massaged again.But this time, in addition to caressing, they rub the skin using their fingertips and phalanges.At the end of the procedure, shake and gently tap the damaged joint.
Ointments for arthrosis of the knee joint
People suffering from arthrosis are advised to limit the load on the affected joint.In the initial stages, they are prescribed drugs belonging to the oxicam group (piroxicam, xefokam) and ketorolac.
Ointments will help improve the patient's condition:
- warming up;
- containing bee venom;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Medicines with a warming effect are prescribed in the absence of obvious symptoms of the disease.They stimulate local blood circulation in the affected areas.Warming ointments are hypoallergenic and have no side effects.Their use is accompanied by a feeling of pleasant warmth and comfort.
Products with bee and snake venom are especially popular.They have distracting and irritating properties, stimulate blood circulation, and also help increase the flexibility of muscles and ligaments.However, such ointments often cause allergic reactions and can cause local inflammation in the application area.In addition, they are contraindicated for menstruating women and children.
If gonarthrosis is complicated by synovitis, the doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They will slow down inflammatory processes and relieve pain.However, such drugs are not very effective: the cream partially remains on the skin, only 5-7% of the active substance penetrates deeply, which is not able to have a sufficient therapeutic effect.
Ointments used for medicinal purposes cannot eliminate arthrosis, but they can relieve pain and significantly improve the patient's quality of life.