Currently, there is no medicine 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 drugs;
- painkillers;
- chondroprotectors to ensure the regeneration of cartilage tissue;
- non-drug methods (physiotherapy, manual therapy, physical therapy);
- traditional medicine recipes.
Diet and spa treatments also play an important role in the fight against this disease.If conservative therapy does not produce any results, then surgical intervention is recommended.
Therapeutic exercises for arthrosis of the knee joint
Therapeutic gymnastics is quite effective in the fight against gonarthrosis.The complex consists of three parts: introduction, main and final.The first involves doing breathing and walking exercises, which are repeated 5-6 times.
In the main part, exercises are performed in which the following starting positions are used: sitting on a chair, lying on your back and side, and standing near the gymnastic wall.In each case, 6-8 repetitions are performed.
In the final part, do exercises in a standing position near a chair and exercise on an exercise bike for two to three minutes, using a slow and moderate pace.The complex ends with respiratory recovery.
When performing therapeutic exercises regularly:
- pain in the knee joint decreases;
- stiffness of movement disappears and its amplitude increases;
- relieved muscle spasms;
- blood circulation is accelerated;
- sudden surges in pressure on 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.
Exercise in water:
- get rid of excess weight and reduce the load on the injured knee;
- relieves tension in the legs;
- increase joint mobility;
- massaging 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.During exercise, it is necessary to ensure that the sore leg remains in the correct position.
To reduce the manifestation of the disease, water gymnastics should include:
- active movements of the legs (including swings in different directions, as well as circular and swinging movements);
- squatting;
- bend the leg at the knee.
Training set
When performing 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 being beneficial, they can worsen the patient's condition.
- Exercise takes place in a sitting or lying position.
- If pain occurs, 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 complexes will provide effective results:
- Lie on your back, stretch your heels forward and pull your toes towards you.This position will relieve muscle spasms and speed up the metabolism in the lower legs.
- "Vertical scissors" - you need to lie on your back and alternately raise and lower your legs, bending them at the hip joints.
- Sit on a high chair and swing your lower limbs.There should be no effort.The amplitude of oscillation should be small.
- Lying on your back, bend your lower limbs at the same time at the hip and knee joints.Bend and straighten your knees.
- Lying on your stomach, alternately raise and lower the outstretched lower limbs.No need to pull the toes.
- "Horizontal scissors" - lie on your back, raise your legs at a right angle.Spread and retract the lower limbs alternately.
- Bend and straighten your knees from a supine position.
- Lie on your side.Raise the straightened lower limbs up and down.
- Lying on your stomach, bend and straighten your legs alternately at the knee joints.
- Lie on your back and imagine 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 a complex of therapeutic and preventive physical education.You can precede your massage with a hot bath or visit the steam room or sauna.This action 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 last, you need to complete the full course.To get the maximum effect, the procedure should be carried out by a specialist - a chiropractor.But you can also do the massage yourself using detailed instructions.
When massaging, use both regular massage oils and creams, and ointments specially made for the treatment of gonarthrosis.The movement of the massage therapist must exactly match the course of the lymphatic channels.The procedure should not cause pain or discomfort.
When fighting diseases, not only manual local massage is used, but also mechanical vibration massage.You can supplement it with a vibrating movement with a sponge and a spiked attachment.
Implementation techniques
Currently, chiropractors for knee arthrosis use four well-known massage systems - Russian, Eastern, Swedish and Finnish.
Each technique has characteristic differences:
- The eastern technique aims to free the muscles from venous blood and improve the motor function of the articular surface.
- The Swedish technique has the strongest effect for gonarthrosis of the knee joint.He uses stroking and rubbing motions, which are performed simultaneously with joint movement.This approach provides a good stretch to the muscles and neurovascular connections, and reduces the compaction that forms in the tissue.
- The Finnish technique is similar to the Swedish one, but differs from it in that only a bunch of thumbs are used to knead the skin.
When massaging, 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 aim to relax muscles, improve blood circulation, relieve tension, and activate 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 rubbing process, deposits are absorbed and removed from the joints, thereby increasing their mobility.
The main method of manual therapy for gonarthrosis is kneading.It is done by gently pressing on the skin.Kneading gives the massage therapist the opportunity to influence the deepest layers of the skin.After the procedure, tissue nutrition improves, muscles become toned, gain strength and elasticity.
Another technique used in massage is vibration - shaking the skin and muscles.With its help, vibrations are sent to the deep tissues.This session consists of three stages: introduction, main and final.During the first and last part, only light and slow pressure is used.In the middle of the procedure, after preparing the tissues and muscles, the most intensive manipulations are performed.
Massage technique
Manual therapy for knee arthrosis involves kneading not only the knee, but also other parts of the body.Manipulation is first performed in the lower part of the spinal column, and then moves to the thigh muscles.During the session, stroking and squeezing techniques are used.The latter is done using the ridge of the fist and the edge of the palm.Each manipulation is repeated 3-4 times.They always end up shaking and rubbing the skin.
After developing the thigh muscles, massage the sore joints.First, they make circular strokes on the sides, and then use various types of rubbing.Then they massaged the thighs again.The number of repetitions is reduced.Massage the knees and thighs alternately several times.The chiropractor then gently flexes and extends the patient's lower limb and rotates the lower leg.After the active movement of the legs, thighs and knees are massaged again.But this time, in addition to stroking, they rub the skin using the tips and phalanges of the fingers.At the end of the procedure, shake and gently apply to the damaged joint.
Ointment for arthrosis of the knee joint
People suffering from arthrosis are advised to limit the load on the affected joints.At the initial stage, they were given drugs belonging to the oxicam group (piroxicam, xefocam) and ketorolac.
Ointment will help improve the patient's condition:
- heating;
- contains bee venom;
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Drugs that have a warming effect are prescribed if there are no obvious symptoms of the disease.They stimulate local blood circulation in the affected area.Warming ointment is hypoallergenic and has no side effects.Its use is accompanied by a pleasant feeling of warmth and comfort.
Especially popular are products containing bee and snake venom.They have disturbing and irritating properties, stimulate blood circulation, and also help increase the elasticity of muscles and ligaments.But 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 the inflammatory process and relieve pain.But the drugs are not very effective: the cream partially remains on the skin, only 5-7% of the active ingredients penetrate deeply, which is not able to produce a sufficient therapeutic effect.
Ointments used for medical purposes cannot relieve arthrosis, but they can relieve pain and significantly improve the patient's quality of life.