Currently, there are no drugs that could 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;
- pain relievers;
- chondroprotectors that ensure the regeneration of cartilage tissue;
- non-medicinal methods (physiotherapy, manual therapy, physical therapy);
- recipes of traditional medicine.
Diet and spa treatment also play an important role in the fight against disease.If conservative therapy does not give any result, 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: 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 using the following starting positions: sitting on a chair, lying on the back and side, as well as standing against the gymnastic wall.In any 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, at a light to medium pace.The complex ends with the restoration of breathing.
During regular therapeutic exercises:
- the pain in the knee joints decreases;
- stiffness of movements disappears and their amplitude increases;
- muscle spasms are alleviated;
- blood circulation is accelerated;
- sudden pressure jumps in the joints are prevented.
Water gymnastics
Many people suffering from gonarthrosis cannot exercise regularly, because it causes severe pain.In such cases, for the sake of easier training, it is recommended to do gymnastics in the water.
Water training:
- eliminates excess weight and reduces the load on the injured knee;
- relieves tension in the legs;
- increases joint mobility;
- massages the skin, which improves blood circulation and the general condition of the body.
When the pain subsides, walk in water to strengthen the muscular corset.During the exercise, it is necessary to ensure that the painful 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.
A set of exercises
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 strokes are strictly contraindicated: instead of benefiting, they can worsen the patient's condition.
- Training takes place in a sitting or lying position.
- If pain occurs, stop the activity.In that case, it is advisable to consult your doctor.
- Training should be regular (several times a day), but short (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 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 on a high chair and swing your lower limbs.There should be no effort.The swing amplitude should be small.
- Lie on your back, bending your lower limbs simultaneously at the hip and knee joints.Bend and straighten your knees.
- Lying on your stomach, alternately raise and lower your outstretched lower limbs.No need to pull your toe.
- "Horizontal scissors" - lie on your back, raise your legs at a right angle.Alternately extend and retract the lower limbs.
- Bend and straighten your knees from a lying position.
- Lie on your side.Lift 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 that you are riding a bicycle.Bend and straighten your legs at the knees and hips.
Massage for knee arthrosis
It is recommended to start manual therapy after a complex of therapeutic and preventive physical education.You can start your massage with a warm shower or a visit to the steam bath or sauna.These actions will help 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 entire course.In order to achieve the maximum effect, the procedure should be carried out by a specialist - a chiropractor.But you can also do a self-massage using detailed instructions.
During the massage, use both ordinary massage oils and creams, as well as ointments specially made for the treatment of gonarthrosis.The movements of the massager must strictly correspond to the flow of 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 a spiked attachment.
Performance 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 joint surfaces.
- The Swedish technique has the strongest effect in gonarthrosis of the knee joint.It uses stroking and rubbing movements, which are performed simultaneously with joint movements.This approach ensures good stretching of the muscles and neurovascular connections and reduces the compaction that is created in the tissues.
- The Finnish technique is similar to the Swedish technique, but differs from it in that only sets of thumbs are used to knead the skin.
During the massage, they use several basic techniques, combining them with each other.Usually, all such procedures begin and end with stroking, which is performed with the entire palm.They are aimed at relaxing muscles, improving blood circulation, relieving tension and activating lymphatic flow.
One of the common methods for 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, improving their mobility.
The main method of manual therapy for gonarthrosis is kneading.It is done by gentle pressure on the skin.Kneading gives the massager the ability to affect 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 of the skin and muscles.With its help, vibrations are transmitted to deep-lying tissues.The session consists of three phases: introductory, main and final.During the first and last part, only light, slow pressure is applied.In the middle of the procedure, after tissue and muscle preparation, 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 performed in the lower part of the spinal column, and then the thigh muscles are moved.During the session, stroking and squeezing techniques are used.The latter is performed using the ridges of the hands and the edges of the palms.Each manipulation is repeated 3-4 times.They always end with shaking and caressing the skin.
After you have developed the thigh muscles, massage the painful joint.First they do circular stroking on the sides, and then they resort to different types of rubbing.Then they massage the thigh again.The number of repetitions is reduced.Massage the knee and the thigh alternately several times.The chiropractor then gently flexes and extends the patient's lower extremity and rotates the lower leg.After active leg movements, the thigh and knee are massaged again.But this time, in addition to caressing, they rub the skin with the tips and phalanges of their 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, they are prescribed drugs from the oxicam group (piroxicam, ksefocam) and ketorolac.
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 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 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They will slow down inflammatory processes and relieve pain.But 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 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.