Currently, there are no medications that can permanently relieve gonarthrosis.But it is quite possible to slow down its development and significantly reduce the pain syndrome.
For this use:
- anti-inflammatory agents;
- pain relievers;
- chondroprotectors to ensure cartilage tissue regeneration;
- non-medicinal methods (physiotherapy, manual therapy, physical therapy);
- recipes from traditional medicine.
Diet and balneotherapy play an important role in the fight against the disease.If conservative therapy fails, then surgical intervention is recommended.
Therapeutic gymnastics for arthrosis of the knee joint
Therapeutic gymnastics is quite effective in the fight against gonarthrosis.Its complex consists of three parts: introductory, main and concluding.The first involves performing breathing exercises and walking, which are repeated 5-6 times.
In the main part, exercises are performed, for which the following starting positions are used: sitting on a chair, lying on the back and on the side, as well as standing near the gymnastic wall.In each case, 6-8 repetitions are performed.
In the final part, do exercises in a standing position next to a chair and exercise on an exercise bike for two to three minutes, using a slow to medium pace.The complex ends with the restoration of breathing.
When performing therapeutic exercises regularly:
- pain in the knee joints decreases;
- stiffness of movements disappears and their amplitude increases;
- muscle spasms are relieved;
- blood circulation is accelerated;
- sudden pressure surges in the joints are prevented.
Water gymnastics
Many people suffering from gonarthrosis cannot do regular exercise because it causes severe pain.In such cases, to facilitate training, it is recommended to do water gymnastics.
Training in water:
- eliminates excess weight and reduces the load on the damaged knee;
- relieves tension in the legs;
- increases joint mobility;
- massages the skin, thus improving blood circulation and the general condition of the body.
When the pain subsides, walk in water to strengthen the muscle corset.During the exercise, it is necessary to ensure that the affected leg remains in the correct position.
In order to reduce the manifestations of the disease, water gymnastics should include:
- active leg movements (including swings in different directions, as well as circular and oscillatory movements);
- squats;
- bending the legs at the knees.
Complex of exercises
When doing therapeutic exercises for arthrosis, you must 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 helping, they can worsen the patient's condition.
- The training is carried out in a sitting or lying position.
- If pain occurs, stop the activity.In this case, it is recommended 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 provide an effective result:
- Lie on your back, stretch your heels forward and pull your toes towards you.This position will relieve muscle spasms and speed up metabolism in the lower limbs.
- "Vertical scissors" - you need to lie on your back and alternately raise and lower your legs, bending them at the hip joints.
- Sit in a high chair and swing your lower limbs.There should be no effort.The amplitude of the swing should be small.
- Lie on your back, simultaneously bending your lower limbs at the hip and knee joints.Bend and straighten your knees.
- Lying on your stomach, alternately raise and lower the stretched lower limbs.No need to pull your toe.
- "Horizontal scissors" - lie on your back, raise your legs at a right angle.Alternately spread and retract the lower limbs.
- Bend and straighten the knees from a lying position.
- Lie on your side.Lift your straight 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 extend your legs at the knees and hips.
Massage for arthrosis of the knee
It is recommended to start manual therapy after a complex of therapeutic and preventive physical education.You can precede your massage with a hot shower or a visit to a steam bath or sauna.These actions will help warm up the muscles and increase the effectiveness of the procedure.A 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 achieve the maximum effect, the procedure must be performed by 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 made for the treatment of gonarthrosis.The masseur's movements must strictly correspond to the course of the lymphatic vessels.The procedure should not cause pain or discomfort.
In the fight against the disease, not only manual local massage is used, but also mechanical vibration massage.You can complement it with vibrating movements with a sponge and spiked attachment.
Performance techniques
Currently, chiropractors for knee arthrosis use four known massage systems - Russian, Eastern, Swedish and Finnish.
Each technique has characteristic differences:
- The Eastern technique is aimed at releasing the muscles from venous blood and improving the motor function of the joint surfaces.
- The Swedish technique has the strongest effect in gonarthrosis of the knee joint.It uses stroking and rubbing movements that are performed simultaneously with the movements of the joints.This approach provides a good stretch of the muscles and neurovascular connections and reduces the seals that form in the tissues.
- The Finnish technique is similar to the Swedish, but differs from it in that only bundles of thumbs are used to knead the skin.
In the massage, they use several basic techniques, combining them with each other.Usually, all such procedures begin and end with stroking, which is done with the entire palm.They are aimed at relaxing muscles, improving blood circulation, relieving tension and activating lymph flow.
One of the common methods of knee massage is rubbing.It provides stretching and relaxation of muscles and ligaments, accelerates the movement of blood and lymph.During the friction process, deposits are absorbed and removed from the joints, thus improving their mobility.
The main method of manual therapy for gonarthrosis is kneading.It is done by gently pressing on the skin.Kneading allows the massage therapist to work on the deepest layers of the skin.After the procedure, tissue nutrition improves, muscles are toned, gain strength and elasticity.
Another technique used in massage is vibration - shaking the skin and muscles.With its help, vibrations are transmitted to deeply located tissues.The session consists of three stages: introductory, main and closing.During the first and last part, only light, slow pressure is applied.In the middle of the procedure, after preparing the tissues and muscles, the most intensive manipulations are performed.
Massage technique
Manual therapy for arthrosis of the knee includes massaging not only the knee, but also other parts of the body.Manipulations are performed first in the lower part of the spine, then move on to the thigh muscles.During the session, stroking and squeezing techniques are used.The latter is done using the edges of the fists and the edges of the palm.Each manipulation is repeated 3-4 times.They always end with shaking and stroking 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 again.The number of repetitions is reduced.Alternate knee and thigh several times.The chiropractor then gently flexes and extends the patient's lower limb and rotates the lower leg.After active leg movements, the thigh and knee are massaged again.But this time, in addition to stroking, they rub the skin with the tips and phalanges of the fingers.At the end of the procedure, shake and gently stroke 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, drugs from the oxicam group (piroxicam, xefokam) and ketorolac are prescribed.
Ointments will help improve the patient's condition:
- warming up;
- containing bee venom;
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Medicines that have a warming effect are prescribed if there are no pronounced 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 pleasant feeling of warmth and comfort.
Products containing bee and snake venom are especially popular.They have distracting and irritating properties, stimulate blood circulation, and also help to increase the elasticity of muscles and ligaments.But such ointments often cause allergic reactions and can cause local inflammation in the area of application.In addition, they are contraindicated for menstruating women and children.
If gonarthrosis is complicated by synovitis, the doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They will slow down inflammatory processes and relieve pain.But such drugs are not very effective: the cream remains partially on the skin, only 5-7% of the active substance penetrates deeply, which cannot lead to a sufficient therapeutic effect.
Ointments used for medical purposes are not able to relieve arthrosis, but they can relieve pain and significantly improve the patient's quality of life.