Methods for the treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joint - medication and physiotherapy, exercise therapy

Treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joint - a complex method of dealing with degenerative -dystrophic pathology that damages the articular joints and bone tissue. Doctors - orthopedists and surgeons - use drug therapy, physiotherapeutic procedures, massage, recommend a complex of exercise therapy that alleviates the condition, reduces pain and restores the knee joint to mobility. Drug treatment and physical therapy are effective in case of gonarthrosis in the early stages. If the disease is ignored, joint replacement surgery is most often performed.

Traditional and alternative medicine methods are also widely used, for example, hirudotherapy, heating with sand, compresses based on medicinal plants, Chinese plasters, Tibetan balms. Before using the treatment of gonarthrosis with folk remedies, it is necessary to consult with a doctor about the suitability of the chosen technique.

Knee gonarthrosis therapy

The choice of therapeutic technique depends on the stage at which the disease is located, other diseases in the history of the patient and the individual characteristics of the organism.

Medicine

The main goals of drugs prescribed for gonarthrosis of the knee joint:

• reduce pain;
• stop the inflammatory process;
• prevents degenerative changes in the articular joints;
• restore movement of lost knee joints.

Medications for gonarthrosis are divided into:

• painkillers and anti-inflammatory;
• chondroprotectors;
• vitamin and mineral complexes.

If the tablets do not give visible results, they use an injection that is injected directly into the joint. This procedure is called blockage. Chondroprotectors, anesthetics, corticosteroid hormones, hyaluronic acid are used for injections.

If a patient is diagnosed with grade 1 gonarthrosis, he or she is prescribed:

1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These tablets have high side effects, so the drug should not be taken for a long time, otherwise a person may suffer from erosions and stomach ulcers.
2. Simple analgesics.
3. Ointments with an irritating effect on the skin, including bee venom, snake venom, chili extract, and other preparations.
4. Glucosaminoglycans or chondroprotectors are divided into natural, complex and monopreparable. They reduce pain, restore mobility in affected joints, and prevent degenerative processes.

It is important to know. Chondroprotectors are prescribed as a background treatment. They must be taken for a long time, from 3 months to six months. You cannot replace a pill prescribed by your doctor with a cheaper drug. They may not work, and time will pass, and the person will develop grade 3 gonarthrosis, which is fraught with serious complications, for example, synovitis.

Traditional methods

Patients with gonarthrosis are advised to eat wood lice, nettles and celery. Fresh wood leaves can be used to prepare salads, which are seasoned with a little vegetable oil.

Nettle can be added to vegetable soups, or you can make an infusion with garlic and lemon:

1. For 100 g of garlic cloves, you need to take 3 medium lemons and 250 g of nettle leaves.
2. Squeeze all ingredients through a meat grinder.
3. Pour the resulting mixture with 3 liters of boiling water and leave for a day in a warm place.

The infusion must be taken daily. On the first day, limit yourself to 70 ml of product and gradually increase the total dose to 3 times a day.

You can make compresses from a decoction of burdock rhizome:

1. 3 tbsp. Pour the crushed raw material with a glass of boiling water.
2. Insist for 15 minutes.
3. Cool.
4. Moisten the gauze in the gravy and apply on the affected joints.
5. Wrap the sore spot and leave overnight.

A useful and common tonic for gonarthrosis is boiled broth from beef bones. The healing effect is given by gelatin, which is released as a result of prolonged heat treatment.

To prepare the broth, take the beef knee and hoof, place in a large saucepan and pour water over it until it covers the bones completely.

Boil and simmer until the flesh and cartilage are easily separated from the bones. 100 ml of broth should be taken before meals.

Physiotherapy

If a person is diagnosed with grade 1 or 2 gonarthrosis, a doctor may prescribe a variety of physiotherapy procedures:

1. Paraffin application is a heating procedure that prevents the development of degenerative processes in the articular joints.
2. Plasmolifting, when a drug is injected into an articular cavity based on the patient’s own blood. Biologically active substances contained in blood plasma have a healing effect. They provoke healing and restoration of affected bone and muscle structures.
3. Cryotherapy or local exposure to liquid nitrogen in the sore spot. The procedure relieves pain and initiates regrowth of damaged joints.
4. Laser therapy, which is an effective method that allows you to stop the inflammatory process and stimulate metabolism in a short time.
5. Ultrasound with glucocorticoids, which have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, stops the degenerative process.
6. Electrophoresis of the drug with anesthetic is the effect of an electric current on the affected joint, which induces the penetration of the drug substance directly into the articular joint.
7. Shock wave therapy, which acts on the damaged area with low -frequency sound waves, and speeds up blood circulation and metabolism in diseased joints.

On a note. Physiotherapy procedures can be performed at home, using magnetic therapy devices, which allow you to relieve the sensation of swelling and pain, to stop the inflammatory process.

Hirudotherapy

Alternative medical methods include leech therapy or hirudotherapy.. . .This gonarthrosis treatment has many advantages:

• within 3 months, a continuous analgesic effect is achieved, which allows you to cancel drug therapy;
• metabolic processes are stimulated, blood microcirculation in the affected joint area is improved;
• swelling subsides;
• articular joint movement is restored;
• clots are removed, which often form due to the development of gonarthrosis.

Hirudotherapy gives the best results in the early stages of the development of the disease. The healing effect on the affected area is due to enzymes that release leeches into the patient’s blood after sucking on a sore knee. These are chemically active ingredients that:

• dissolves thrombotic compounds, prevents blood clotting;
• lower cholesterol levels;
• breaks down hyaluronic acid.

On a note. Enzymes such as eglin and kininase can replace non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics.

Special training

Recreational gymnastics is an effective method of treating pathologies affecting the articular joints. The purpose of this exercise is to strengthen the muscles, which will provide support to the damaged joint and make it possible to return to movement.

With gonarthrosis, strength training, prolonged walking or running is contraindicated. Classes must be replaced with breaks.

Positive effects will be seen if you exercise regularly for at least six months. Approximate set of exercises:

1. Swing the legs with moderate amplitude. It is best to do this while sitting in a high chair or table so that your feet are hanging in the air.
2. Without changing position, you can lift the legs alternately, straightening them at the knees, holding the pose for at least 3 seconds.
3. The next exercise is cycling. It is done while lying on the floor. Simulate slow cycling at first, gradually speeding up the pace, and then slowing down again.
4. From the cartilage position, you must gently bend the knee and pull it to the abdomen. Then, gently straighten the bent limb until there is tension in the muscles. You need to hold the pose for 8 seconds. Then lower the heel to the floor and slowly straighten the leg, returning to the normal position.

A set of therapeutic exercises is ideal for the treatment of gonarthrosis. A physiotherapist should consult before performing the filling.

Sort

This method cannot get rid of the disease, but can relieve symptoms, alleviate periods of exacerbation, and even increase the effectiveness of physiotherapy and medications.

Sortwith gonarthrosis:

• loosening spasmodic muscles around the affected joint;
• speed up the healing process;
• Toxic substances "come out" accumulated in the tissues due to inflammation.

For the treatment of gonarthrosis, the following methods are used:

• The Japanese, who acted in the affected areas with physical assistance;
• The Swedes use a rub, stretching joint pain with the palms of the hands;
• Finland, when all kneading movements are done with the thumb.

The massage includes not only mechanical action on the affected limb, but also massaging the lower spine. During the procedure, the person should not experience pain in the damaged joint.

Self -massage at home is allowed. First, you must learn the technique of performing massage movements:

• caress;
• rubbing;
• kneading;
• tapping or finger bathing;
• vibration.

Basic rules for the procedure:

1. Self -massage is performed on an empty stomach.
2. It is better if one takes a bath or a warm bath at this time (water temperature should not exceed 36-38 ° C).
3. This procedure is performed in the morning, before 14: 00, as it strengthens the body.
4. All movements are performed carefully, there should be no marks, bruises on the skin, one should not feel pain while massaging oneself.
5. The procedure is started from the largest femoral muscle, moving from the knee joint toward the groin.
6. At the end of the exposure, it is recommended to bend and straighten the leg at the knee several times.

Important. Before using your own massage, you should consult an orthopedic specialist.

Disease prevention

Various causes of arthrosis:

• overweight;
• wrong lifestyle;
• excessive physical activity;
• genetic predisposition.

Prevention of gonarthrosis includes various measures, for example, diet, avoidance of alcohol and smoking, physical education, which eliminates the increased pressure on the knee joint. Health sports activities include:

• Nordic walking, which uses special equipment, such as ski poles;
• yoga, which increases joint flexibility, speeds up metabolism, has a beneficial effect on the body as a whole;
• Do cycling activities that help keep your knee joints healthy.

If a person leads an active lifestyle - cycling, cycling, skiing, he must take care of protective equipment that will help prevent micro injuries and significant knee injuries. Any physical activity should be moderate, and sports activities should be replaced with rest.