There are currently no drugs that can permanently relieve gonarthrosis.But it is quite possible to slow down its development and significantly reduce the pain syndrome.
For this I use:
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- painkillers;
- chondroprotectors to ensure the regeneration of cartilaginous tissue;
- non-pharmacological methods (physiotherapy, manual therapy, physical therapy);
- traditional medicine recipes.
Diet and spa treatments also play an important role in the fight against the disease.If conservative therapy does not produce any results, surgery 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: introductory, main and final.The first involves performing breathing and walking exercises, 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 side, as well as standing near the gymnastics wall.In each case 6-8 repetitions are performed.
In the final part, perform exercises in a standing position near a chair and exercise on an exercise bike for two to three minutes, using a slow and medium pace.The complex ends with the restoration of breathing.
When regularly performing therapeutic exercises:
- knee joint pain decreases;
- the rigidity of the movements disappears and their amplitude increases;
- muscle spasms are relieved;
- blood circulation accelerates;
- sudden pressure peaks in the joints are avoided.
Water gymnastics
Many people suffering from gonarthrosis cannot do regular exercise, as it causes severe pain.In these cases, to facilitate training, it is advisable to do water gymnastics.
Water training:
- eliminates excess weight and reduces the load on the injured 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 the water to strengthen the muscle corset.During the exercise you need to ensure that the sore leg remains in the correct position.
To reduce the manifestations of the disease, aqua gymnastics should include:
- active leg movements (including swings in different directions, as well as circular and oscillatory movements);
- squats;
- bending your legs at the knees.
Series of exercises
When performing therapeutic exercises for arthrosis, you should follow the following rules:
- All exercises are performed at a slow, steady pace with a gradual increase in amplitude.Sharp oscillations are strictly contraindicated: instead of bringing benefits, they can worsen the patient's condition.
- Training takes place in a sitting or lying position.
- If pain occurs, stop activity.In this case it is advisable to consult your doctor.
- Training should be regular (several times a day), but short-term (a couple of minutes for each pose).
The following complex will provide an effective result:
- Lie on your back, extend your heels forward and pull your toes towards you.This position will relieve muscle spasms and speed up metabolism in the lower extremities.
- "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 shouldn't be any effort.The amplitude of the oscillations 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 your extended lower limbs.It is not necessary to detach the tip.
- “Horizontal scissors” – lying on your back, raise your legs at right angles.Alternately open and retract the lower limbs.
- 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, alternately bend and straighten your legs at the knee joints.
- Lie on your back and imagine yourself riding a bicycle.Bend and straighten your legs at the knees and hips.
Massage for knee osteoarthritis
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 the Turkish 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 several sessions of such therapy will significantly improve the patient's condition.But for the results to be long-lasting, you need to complete the entire course.To achieve maximum effect, the procedure should be performed by a specialist, a chiropractor.But you can also do self-massage by following detailed instructions.
During the massage, use both regular massage oils and creams, and ointments specially made for the treatment of gonarthrosis.The movements of the masseur 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 is used, but also mechanical vibration massage.You can supplement it with vibrating movements with a sponge and a pin attachment.
Performance techniques
Currently, chiropractors for knee osteoarthritis use four well-known massage systems: Russian, Oriental, Swedish and Finnish.
Each technique has characteristic differences:
- The oriental technique aims to free the muscles from venous blood and improve the motor function of the joint surfaces.
- The Swedish technique has the strongest effect against gonarthrosis of the knee joint.It uses stroking and rubbing movements, which are performed simultaneously with joint movements.This approach guarantees good stretching of the muscles and neurovascular connections and reduces the compactions that form in the tissues.
- The Finnish technique is similar to the Swedish one, but differs from it in that only the thumbs are used to knead the skin.
During the massage, they use several basic techniques, combining them with each other.Usually, all these procedures begin and end with stroking, which is performed with the entire palm.They aim to relax muscles, improve blood circulation, relieve tension and activate lymphatic flow.
One of the most common methods of massaging the knees is rubbing.Provides stretching and relaxation of muscles and ligaments, accelerates the movement of blood and lymph.During the rubbing process the 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 pressing gently on the skin.Kneading gives the masseur the opportunity to act on the deeper layers of the skin.After the procedure, tissue nutrition improves, muscles tone up, gaining strength and elasticity.
Another technique used in massage is vibration: shaking the skin and muscles.With its help, vibrations are transmitted to deep tissues.The session consists of three phases: introductory, main and final.During the first and last parts only light, slow pressure is applied.In the middle of the procedure, after preparing the tissues and muscles, the most intense manipulations are performed.
Massage technique
Manual therapy for knee osteoarthritis involves kneading not only the knee, but also other parts of the body.Manipulations are first performed in the lower part of the spine, and then move on to the thigh muscles.Stroking and squeezing techniques are used during the session.The latter is performed using the ridges of the fists and the edges of the palm.Each manipulation is repeated 3-4 times.Always finish by shaking and caressing the skin.
After developing your thigh muscles, massage the sore joint.First, they perform circular stroking on the sides, then resort to different types of rubbing.Then they massage the thigh again.The number of repetitions is reduced.Massage the knee and thigh several times, alternating them.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 pat the damaged joint.
Ointments for arthrosis of the knee joint
People suffering from osteoarthritis are advised to limit the load on the affected joint.In the initial stages, drugs belonging to the group of oxicams (piroxicam, xefocam) and ketorolac are prescribed.
Ointments will help improve the patient's condition:
- heating;
- containing bee venom;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Drugs 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 sensation of warmth and comfort.
Products containing bee and snake venom are particularly popular.They have distracting 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 area of application.Furthermore, 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 ingredient penetrates deeply, which is not able to produce a sufficient therapeutic effect.
Ointments used for medicinal purposes are not able to relieve arthrosis, but they can relieve pain and significantly improve the patient's quality of life.