Currently, there is no medication that can permanently relieve knee osteoarthritis.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-drug methods (physiotherapy, manual therapy, physiotherapy);
- traditional medicine recipes.
Diet and spa treatments also play an important role in the fight against the disease.If conservative treatment does not bring results, then surgical intervention is recommended.
Therapeutic exercise for osteoarthritis 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 is to perform breathing and walking exercises, repeated 5 to 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 to 8 repetitions are performed.
In the final part, do exercises while standing near a chair and exercising on an exercise bike for two to three minutes at a slow, medium pace.The complex ends with the restoration of breathing.
When performing therapeutic exercises regularly:
- pain in the knee joints decreases;
- the stiffness of movements disappears and their amplitude increases;
- muscle spasms are relieved;
- blood circulation accelerates;
- sudden increases in pressure in the joints are avoided.
Aquatic gymnastics
Many people with knee OA cannot exercise regularly because it causes severe pain.In such cases, to make training easier, 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 the water to strengthen the muscle corset.During the 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 leg movements (including swings in different directions, as well as circular and oscillatory movements);
- squat;
- bend your legs at the knees.
Set of exercises
When performing therapeutic exercises for osteoarthritis, you must follow the following rules:
- All exercises are performed at a slow, flowing pace with a gradual increase in amplitude.Sudden oscillations are strictly contraindicated: instead of benefiting, they can worsen the patient's condition.
- The workout takes place in a sitting or lying position.
- If you experience pain, stop the activity.In this 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 provide an effective result:
- Lie on your back, stretch your heels forward and pull your toes toward you.This position will relieve muscle spasms and accelerate the metabolism of the lower limbs.
- "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 oscillations should be low.
- 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 tense lower limbs.There is no need to remove the toe.
- “Horizontal scissors” – lie on your back, raise your legs at a right angle.Alternatively, spread and retract the lower limbs.
- Bend and straighten your knees while lying down.
- Lie on your side.Raise your lower limbs straightened 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 osteoarthritis
It is advisable 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 hammam 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 achieve the maximum effect, the procedure should be carried out by a specialist - a chiropractor.But you can also do a self-massage following detailed instructions.
When massaging, use both regular massage oils and creams and ointments specially designed for the treatment of gonarthrosis.The massage therapist's movements must strictly correspond to the path of the 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 complete it with vibrating movements with a sponge and a spiked tip.
Execution 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 most powerful effect for gonarthrosis of the knee joint.It uses stroking and rubbing movements, which are performed simultaneously with joint movements.This approach allows for good stretching of the muscles and neurovascular connections, and reduces the compaction that forms in the tissues.
- The Finnish technique is similar to the Swedish technique, but differs in that only thumb clusters are used to knead the skin.
When massaging, they use several basic techniques, combining them with each other.As a rule, all these procedures begin and end with stroking performed with the whole palm.They aim to relax muscles, improve blood circulation, relieve tension and activate lymphatic flow.
One of the common methods for massaging knees is rubbing.It provides stretching and relaxation of muscles and ligaments, accelerates the movement of blood and lymph.When rubbing, deposits are absorbed and removed from the joints, improving their mobility.
The main method of manual therapy for gonarthrosis is kneading.This is done by gently pressing on the skin.Kneading offers the massage therapist 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 massage is vibration, which involves shaking the skin and muscles.With its help, vibrations are transmitted to deep tissues.The session includes 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 carried out.
Massage technique
Manual therapy for knee osteoarthritis involves kneading not only the knee, but also other parts of the body.The manipulations are carried out first in the lower part of the spine, then extend to the thigh muscles.During the session, caressing and compression 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 to 4 times.They always end up shaking and stroking the skin.
After developing the thigh muscles, massage the painful 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, alternating 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 stroking, they rub the skin using the tips and phalanges of the fingers.At the end of the procedure, gently shake and stroke the damaged joint.
Ointments for osteoarthritis of the knee joint
People suffering from osteoarthritis are advised to limit the load on the affected joint.In the early stages, they are prescribed drugs belonging to the group of oxicams (piroxicam, xefocam) and ketorolac.
Ointments will help improve the patient's condition:
- warming;
- containing bee venom;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Medicines with a warming effect are prescribed if there are no pronounced symptoms of the disease.They stimulate local blood circulation in 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 particularly popular.They have distracting and irritating properties, stimulate blood circulation, and also help to increase the elasticity of muscles and ligaments.But these ointments often cause allergic reactions and can cause local inflammation in the area of application.In addition, they are contraindicated for women and children during menstruation.
If the knee osteoarthritis 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 deep, which is not capable of producing a sufficient therapeutic effect.
Ointments used for medicinal purposes are not capable of relieving osteoarthritis, but they can relieve pain and significantly improve the patient's quality of life.