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 drugs;
- pain relievers;
- chondroprotectors to ensure the regeneration of cartilage tissue;
- non-medicinal methods (physiotherapy, manual therapy, physiotherapy);
- 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 results, then surgical intervention is recommended.
Therapeutic exercises 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 these starting positions are used: sitting on a chair, lying on the back and on the side, as well as standing next to the gymnastic wall.In each case, 6-8 repetitions are performed.
In the last 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 moderate pace.The complex ends with the restoration of breathing.
When you regularly perform therapeutic exercises:
- pain in the knee joints decreases;
- stiffness of movements disappears and their amplitude increases;
- muscle spasms are relieved;
- blood circulation is accelerated;
- sudden increases in pressure in the joints are prevented.
Water gymnastics
Many people suffering from gonarthrosis cannot do regular exercises, as they cause severe pain.In such cases, to facilitate training, it is recommended to do water aerobics.
Water training:
- 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 the water to strengthen the muscular core.During training, it is necessary to ensure that the injured leg remains in the correct position.
To reduce the manifestations of the disease, water aerobics should include:
- active leg movements (including swings in different directions, as well as circular and oscillatory movements);
- squats;
- bending the legs at the knees.
Exercise set
When doing therapeutic exercises for arthrosis, you must follow the following rules:
- All exercises are performed at a slow and steady pace with a gradual increase in amplitude.Sharp oscillations 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 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 relieve muscle spasms and accelerate 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 shake your lower limbs.There should be no effort.The amplitude of oscillations should be small.
- Lie on your back, bending the lower limbs at the same time at the hip and knee joints.Bend and straighten your knees.
- Lying on the 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 your knees from a lying position.
- Lie on your side.Raise the lower limbs directed 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 precede your massage with a hot shower or a visit to the steam room 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 stable, 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.
During the massage, use regular massage oils and creams, as well as ointments specially designed for the treatment of gonarthrosis.The movements of the massage therapist must correspond strictly to the flow of lymphatic vessels.The procedure should not cause pain or discomfort.
When fighting the disease, not only local manual massage is used, but also mechanical vibration massage.You can fill it with vibrating movements with a sponge and a spiked attachment.
Execution techniques
Currently, chiropractors for knee arthrosis use four popular massage systems - Russian, Eastern, Swedish and Finnish.
Each technique has characteristic differences:
- The Eastern Technique aims to release the muscles from venous blood and improve the motor function of the articular surfaces.
- The Swedish technique has the strongest effect for 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 compressions 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 cook the skin.
During the massage, they use several basic techniques, combining them with each other.Typically, all such procedures begin and end with strokes, which are performed with the entire palm.They aim to relax muscles, improve blood circulation, relieve tension and activate lymphatic flow.
One of the common methods for massaging the knees 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, thus improving their mobility.
The main method of manual therapy for gonarthrosis is boiling.It is done by gently pressing the skin.Boiling offers the massage therapist the opportunity to influence the deeper layers of the skin.After the procedure, tissue nutrition improves, muscles are toned, gain strength and elasticity.
Another technique used in massage is vibration - oscillations of the skin and muscles.With its help, vibrations are transmitted to deep tissues.The session consists of three stages: introductory, main and final.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 boiling not only the knee, but also other parts of the body.Manipulations are first performed on the lower part of the spine, and then passed to the thigh muscles.During the session, tapping and squeezing techniques are used.The latter is performed using the ridges of the fists and the edges of the palm.Each manipulation is repeated 3-4 times.They always end with rocking and caressing the skin.
After you have developed the thigh muscles, massage the sore joint.First, they make circular strokes on the sides, and then use different types of friction.Then they massage the thigh again.The number of repetitions decreases.Massage the knee and thigh alternately 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 caressing, they rub the skin using the tips and phalanges of the fingers.At the end of the procedure, gently shake and hit the damaged joint.
Ointment 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 medications belonging to the oxicam group (piroxicam, xefocam) and ketorolac.
Ointments will help improve the patient's condition:
- heating;
- containing bee venom;
- non-steroidal 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 associated with a pleasant feeling 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 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.But such medications are not very effective: the cream remains partially 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 are not able to relieve arthrosis, but they can relieve pain and significantly improve the patient's quality of life.