Currently, there are no medications 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;
- painkillers;
- chondroprotectors to ensure regeneration of cartilage tissue;
- non-drug methods (physiotherapy, manual therapy, physical therapy);
- traditional medicine recipes.
Diet and spa treatment also play an important role in the fight against the disease.If conservative therapy does not produce any result, then 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 exercises and walking, 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 your back and side, as well as 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 medium pace.The complex ends with the restoration of breathing.
When performing therapeutic exercises regularly:
- pain in the knee joints decreases;
- stiffness of movements disappears and their amplitude increases;
- muscle spasms are relieved;
- blood circulation accelerates;
- sudden surges in pressure in the joints are prevented.
Water gymnastics
Many people suffering from gonarthrosis cannot do regular exercise, as it causes severe pain.In such cases, to facilitate training, it is recommended to do water gymnastics.
Training in water:
- eliminates excess weight and reduces the load on the injured knee;
- relieves tension in the legs;
- increases joint mobility;
- massages the skin, thereby improving blood circulation and the general condition of the body.
When the pain subsides, walk in 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 manifestations of the disease, water gymnastics should include:
- active movements of the legs (including swings in different directions, as well as circular and oscillatory movements);
- squats;
- bending the legs at the knees.
Set of exercises
When doing 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 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 with 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, 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 amplitude of the swings should be small.
- Lie on your back, bending 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 your outstretched lower limbs.There is no need to pull the toe off.
- “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 supine position.
- Lie on your side.Raise your 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 advisable to start manual therapy after a complex of therapeutic and preventive physical education.You can preface 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 several sessions of such therapy will significantly improve the patient’s condition.But for the results to be lasting, you need to complete the full course.To obtain the maximum effect, the procedure should be carried out by a specialist - a chiropractor.But you can also do self-massage using detailed instructions.
When massaging, use both regular massage oils and creams, and ointments specially made for the treatment of gonarthrosis.The movements of the massage therapist must strictly correspond to the course of the lymphatic vessels.The procedure should not lead to 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 spiked attachment.
Execution 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 muscles from venous blood and improving the motor function of articular surfaces.
- The Swedish technique has the strongest effect for gonarthrosis of the knee joint.She uses stroking and rubbing movements, which are performed simultaneously with the movements of the joints.This approach provides good stretching of the muscles and neurovascular connections, and reduces compactions that form in the tissues.
- The Finnish technique is similar to the Swedish one, but differs from it in that only bunches of thumbs are used to knead the skin.
When massaging, they use several basic techniques, combining them with each other.Typically, all such procedures begin and end with stroking, which is performed with the whole palm.They are aimed at relaxing muscles, improving blood circulation, relieving tension, and activating lymph 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, thereby improving their mobility.
The main method of manual therapy for gonarthrosis is kneading.It is done by gently pressing on the skin.Kneading provides the massage therapist with the opportunity to influence the deepest layers of the skin.After the procedure, tissue nutrition improves, muscles are toned, gaining strength and elasticity.
Another technique used in massaging is vibration - shaking the skin and muscles.With its help, vibrations are transmitted to deep-lying tissues.The session consists of three stages: 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 intensive manipulations are performed.
Massage technique
Manual therapy for 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 move on to the thigh muscles.During the session, stroking and squeezing techniques are used.The latter is carried out using the ridges of the fists and the edges of the palm.Each manipulation is repeated 3-4 times.They always end with shaking and stroking the skin.
Having developed the thigh muscles, massage the sore joint.First, they do circular stroking on the sides, and then resort to different types of rubbing.Then they massage the thigh again.The number of repetitions is reduced.Massage the knee and thigh alternate several times.The chiropractor then gently flexes and extends the patient's lower limb and rotates the lower leg.After active movements of the leg, the thigh and knee 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 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 medications belonging to the oxicam group (piroxicam, xefocam) and ketorolac.
Ointments will help improve the patient’s condition:
- warming;
- 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 feeling of warmth and comfort.
Particularly popular are products containing bee and snake venoms.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 medications are not very effective: the cream partially remains on the skin, only 5-7% of the active substance penetrates deeply, which is not capable of producing 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.