Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system and unfortunately the most common cause of loss of mobility, disability and sometimes disability.With osteoarthritis, cartilage is affected that lines the articular surface irrevocably, causing the joint to stop functioning properly and cause pain.
Officially, the disease is called "deforming osteoarthritis";Another name is gonarthrosis (from the old Greek "Goni" knee).The knee joints are the largest joints on the human body and are the most commonly affected by osteoarthritis.Much less affects the disease hip and ankle joints.
How does gonarthrosis occur?
Usually healthy cartilage is elastic and smooth, it completely covers the moving areas of the bone and allows them to slip.Cartilage also softens the stress that bones get when walking or exercising.
When cartilage is destroyed (that is how arthrosis manifests), the top layer of this elastic tissue becomes thinner.Sometimes cartilage delamines, tears appear - this is how the joint loses its most important "shock absorber" and "bearings".The bones begin to rub against each other, the joint swells, gradually loses its normal appearance, and pain appears.
Causes of gonarthrosis and risk factors
Osteoarthritis DeFormans are more common in the elderly, obese women, but that does not mean that young and physically active people do not suffer from this pathology.Sometimes the development of the disease is provided by heavy physical work or excessive stress in the gym.
Here is a far from complete list of the causes of arthrosis in the knee joint:
- Sports injuries - meniscus injuries, breaks and dislocations;
- Inflammatory processes in joints and contemporary diseases;
- Metabolic disorders - some diseases lead to the formation of intra -articular deposits;
- Excessive stress on the joint, including prolonged status or physical work associated with heavy lifting;
- Uneven load on the joints due to the curvature of the legs - arthrosis manifests itself faster in overloaded areas.
Much depends on genes - a person may have a hereditary disposal for arthrosis of the knee joints.In such people, the gene is disturbed, which is responsible for the development and stability of cartilage tissue.
There are several factors that increase the risk of gonarthrosis:
- Increased body weight.Due to the rising load on the joint, cartilage tissue wears faster;
- Age over 40 years.Most people of this age have reduced physical activity.Due to physical inactivity, muscles supply atrophy, slight muscle tissue not properly jointed joints properly and the risk of cartilage damage increases.
Symptoms of arthrosis
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is not a disease that may suddenly occur.It makes itself known strongly in advance: It all starts with a little pain in the knee when walking.The pain can rise if you need to go up or down the stairs.As a rule, the knee hurts at the beginning of the movement, then the pain disappears and returns with prolonged strain on the joint.
If you ignore these symptoms and do not consult a doctor about them, the disease will begin to move forward.Then the pain changes from going to continuous, the knee will begin to hurt more even at rest and will swell.When cartilage deteriorates, the mobility of the entire joint will be limited.
Some people notice that the knee "responds" to changes in the weather.This really happens - the nerve endings in the joint capsule are sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure.
The following symptoms are characteristic of gonarthrosis:
- knee pain when moving and walking;
- Morning stiffness in the knee joint when the range of motion is minimal;
- Swelling of the knee;
- Dry and rough crushing sound as one moves - this sound occurs due to the friction of the articular surfaces.
As the disease progresses, the symptoms change:
- The pain bothering yourself at rest;
- The collection is deformed and loses its functions;
- Due to knee formation changes walking.
Degrees of gonarthrosis
There are 3 stages of developing arthrosis of the knee joint.
1. degreeIllness - almost asymptomatic.It begins with the first manifestations of the disease - almost painless, for example, fatigue in the legs - and lasts until the first bone forms appear.If the knee has changed its shape due to synovitis - that is, due to the accumulation of fluid in the joint, but the intra -articular cartilage is not damaged, the disease is still on step 1.
2. DegreeCharacterized by progressive changes in bone tissue.Externally, the knee may look the same as in step 1 - deformed and increased in size.The pain increases: In addition to the incoming pain that occurs during motion, the crepitus (crushing) is added to the affected knee.The joint becomes less mobile, it becomes difficult to squat and walk on uneven surfaces.
3rd degreeThe degree of gonarthrosis is the most painful.At this point, there is hardly any cartilage tissue left, and if the disease is severe, the bones can grow together.Then the collection is completely immobilized and the person should only move using a crutch or stick.Usually at this point, doctors will make a verdict on endoprotetics of the damaged joint.
Important: Only a doctor can determine the exact degree of development of the disease.Sometimes, with mild symptoms, the disease severely affects the cartilage membrane - for an accurate diagnosis, further studies are usually performed:
- Radiography - To see if the cartilage surfaces are deformed and in which state is the common space;
- CT or MRI - for more detailed studies.
How is gonarthrosis diagnosed and treated?
The first thing to remember is that timely diagnosis and early treatment will help stop the disease at the beginning.Therefore, the appearance of the first discomfort in the knee joint is a good reason to visit a doctor and undergo a examination.
Doctors make a diagnosis of osteoarthritis based not only on medical history, complaints and the current state of the knee joint.The results of further studies also play an important role - they are often prescribed to clarify the stage of gonarthrosis and the severity of the disease.
To accurately diagnose arthrosis of the knee joint prescribes doctors usually:
- Radiography.If pathological processes have begun in the knee - for example, deposits of calcium crystals or bone tumors are shown in the joint capsule - these changes will be visible in the images.Doctors most often prescribe X -ray examinations, but without a thorough examination of the knee joint, its mobility and the condition of the muscles that support it, the image is incomplete;
- Ultrasound - It can be used to assess the condition of the soft tissue that surrounds and sets the joint.Ultrasound complements the results of radiography so that the doctor can see changes not only in bone structures but also in tissues;
- MR - magnetic resonance image.An MRI is prescribed to complaints about knee pain if the doctor suspects damage to the meniscus, ligaments or tendons;
- Arthroscopy is an invasive study in which the joint cavity is examined from the inside using a camera.The cameras are inserted through small incisions on the skin;Through these same cuts, doctors can perform less manipulations - for example, remove a piece of broken cartilage, partially smooth out unevenness in the cartilage woven, etc.
Treatment of arthosis is usually performed with medications that first and foremost try to relieve pain, improve joint mobility and restore the ability to move.Osteoarthritis causes irreversible changes in cartilage tissue - therefore it is impossible to talk about a complete cure.But it is possible to stop the development of the disease - thus slowing down further tissue destruction.
This is what the default treatment for gonarthrosis looks like:
- Local remedies - stains, creams, ointments and gels;
- painkillers;
- Anti-inflammatory drugs, especially non-steroidal substances.Their use is considered "gold standard" of medicine, but such drugs destroy gastric mucosa;
- Blockades and Chondroprotectors - Medicine, the effect of which only appears after a long course of use;
- Rarely - physiotherapy and sanatorium treatment.
There are recommendations for wearing orthopedic knee pads to support the joint and reduce pain.But all the above methods are methods of passive influence on the function of the joint.
This treatment only relieves some symptoms - neutralizes pain, inhibits inflammatory processes, etc. The disease itself continues to move forward and gradually destroy the joint.In the last stages of osteoarthritis, a person loses not only the ability to work, but also the ability to move.In such cases, the assembly must be prosthetized - that is, an artificial structure must be inserted into the knee.Such a surgical intervention does not go without leaving a trail and imposes its own limitations - and therefore reduces the quality of life.
Methods of active influence on the joint have a completely different effect when the tone of the tone of the muscles that supply the joint with blood and nutrients by using the body's own resources.Such treatment is most effective if it is performed under the supervision of qualified and experienced doctors.
Treatment of gonarthrosis with kinestherapy
KinesHerapy, that is, movement treatment, activates the body's own powers.Properly selected load allows you to effectively work with the necessary muscles and by strengthening the muscle corset improve the condition of the joint and cartilage.
Treatment with kinestherapy begins with a thorough examination and necessarily myofascial testing.A Kinesapist examines the condition of a tender knee, analyzing the condition of muscle tissue, tendons and ligaments.Taking into account the data from ultrasound, CT, MRI and radiography, the degree of gonarthrosis is determined and a program of therapeutic exercises is prepared.
Classes are performed on a multifunctional simulator - a proprietary simulator with a special design.Exercises are performed in such a way that they avoid excessive stress on the joint and work only on the muscles to be strengthened and developed.In the initial stages, patients with the Earth are prescribed common gymnastics - it consists of exercises on a mat without weights.
The therapeutic effect of kinestherapy is ensured by restoring blood microcirculation and improved lymph reduction.The cartilage gets more nutrition, the development of arthosis slows down to a complete stop, and the biomechanics of the articular LED is fully recovered.
Such a serious illness as arthrosis of the knee joints cannot be ignored.The best way to prevent it is to lead a healthy lifestyle: a balanced diet, physical activity.However, if problems with collections have already begun, do not wait for serious warning signs - on the first symptoms, seek help from qualified doctors.