From this article, you can learn everything about arthrosis of the knee joint: what it is, what causes it, what manifestations there are in the different stages.How to treat and prevent the disease.
Arthrosis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) is a degenerative pathology of the joint, in which the cartilages are destroyed, the muscles and ligaments are damaged, and the bones are deformed.
The disease mainly appears after the age of 40 (12-16% of people living at this age are affected).Women get sick twice as often as men.Athletes and those doing heavy physical work are susceptible to the disease.
Gonarthrosis develops gradually and is accompanied by joint pain:
- joint mobility decreases;
- bone and cartilage tissue grows, which interferes with the normal functioning of the joint.
Over time, this leads to complete immobility of the joint.Without treatment, the disease leads to disability.
Conservative therapy of arthrosis of the knee joint is possible only in the initial stages of the development of the process (1 and 2), it allows to slow down and stop the development of the pathology.
As the disease progresses, the treatment is only surgical.You can completely (100%) get rid of the pathology only with endoprosthesis - knee replacement.
The diagnosis and treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint is carried out by an orthopedic traumatologist and other doctors.According to the indications, a consultation with a rheumatologist is planned.The sports doctor can also identify the symptoms of the disease.
Causes and types of the disease
Depending on the factor causing the disease, there are 2 types of knee joint:
Primary (idiopathic)
This type of arthrosis affects middle-aged and elderly people.The initial stages are diagnosed after the age of 40, and gonarthrosis is detected in 60% of people over the age of 70.Often 2 joints are affected at the same time.
Primary arthrosis occurs due to changes in the body with advancing age, deterioration of blood circulation and slowing of metabolism.The risk of development increases with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.
Secondary form
Secondary - can appear in a person of any age and can affect 2 joints and 1 joint at the same time.
The reasons are:
- Strong stress on the legs.
- Injuries of ligaments, menisci of the knee, intra-articular fractures.
- Diseases in which metabolic processes are disturbed (parathyroid disorders, diabetes, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, gout, mucopolysaccharidosis and other diseases).
- Connective tissue diseases.
- Inflammatory pathologies (infectious and non-infectious arthritis and arthritis), hemophilia (a rare hereditary disease with blood clotting disorders).
Then we will examine in more detail what it is - arthrosis of the knee joint, its extent, what changes begin in the tissues during the pathology.
Symptoms and three stages of the disease
As the disease progresses, the cartilage begins to thin due to heavy loads or lack of nutrients.This causes friction between the bones that articulate in the knee joint.
Erosion of bone tissue is formed as a protective reaction of the body - growths begin to form.All these factors lead to deformation and limited mobility of the knee joint.
Symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint in 3 stages:
| Stage | Clinical symptoms | Processes occurring in the joint |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
It can be asymptomatic Possible knee pain in the morning, when squatting, climbing stairs, after long training and hypothermia Morning knee stiffness Synovitis may develop - accumulation of fluid in the joint, which must be removed by puncture (piercing the cavity with fluid and collecting it) |
The surface of the cartilage will be rough and dry Cracks and ulcers appear on it |
| 2 |
The pain occurs even with mild exertion and becomes stronger with active walking. The leg does not bend completely, the joint occasionally cracks The knee visually expands The risk of synovitis increases even further |
Due to the increased load on the joint, it appears to become flat The formation of osteophytes begins - bone growth The synovial fluid becomes thicker and less nutritious Destructive processes accelerate in the cartilage |
| 3 |
The pain becomes chronic and haunts the patient even at rest. Both full flexion and full extension of the knee are impossible The volume of the joints increases Walking is difficult, many people start using crutches or a stick Valgus deformity of the legs (X-shaped foot position) or varus deformity (O-shaped foot position) may occur. |
There is almost no cartilage tissue The bones deform and "press" into each other, leading to limited mobility in the joint |
Acute form
Acute arthrosis of the knee joint is a period when the disease develops faster and is clinically more pronounced.
Aggravation can be caused by:
- too much stress on the joint;
- hypothermia;
- non-compliance with the prescribed diet;
- injury.
Sometimes gonarthrosis begins acutely, as if bypassing the first stage.This is possible due to a knee injury.
Diagnostics
If you notice joint stiffness that occurs in the morning or after prolonged sitting, as well as pain when walking down stairs or squatting, this may be a sign of stage 1 gonarthrosis.
To establish an accurate diagnosis, visit your family doctor, who will refer you to an orthopedist or another doctor.
Before treating osteoarthritis or gonarthrosis, the doctor performs an initial examination and palpation of the joint and refers to the following:
- radiography - helps assess the state of the joint;
- Ultrasound makes it possible to determine whether there is a concomitant inflammatory process.
Treatment methods
Its symptoms and treatment are related to knee arthrosis, as many therapeutic measures are specifically aimed at eliminating disturbing symptoms and improving a person's quality of life.
Taking medications, diet and exercise therapy:
- slows down further destructive processes in the cartilage tissue;
- prevent the progression of the disease.
It is impossible to completely cure the disease, but it is possible to stop and slow down the development of pathology.
Diet
The goal of following the diet is to slow down the further progression of the disease.
What to add to the menu and what to exclude:
| Healthy products | Prohibited products |
|---|---|
| Rabbit, turkey, chicken, dairy products, eggs (up to 3 per day and preferably without the yolk) - serve as a source of protein |
Fatty meat, sausage, sausage - leads to weight gain, which causes additional stress on the joints and disrupts the normal formation of synovial fluid |
| Fish, especially red varieties, are rich in Omega-3 |
Flour, sweets, mayonnaise, fast food - foods that contribute to overweight |
| Jellied meat made from bone broth, gelatin - contains chondroitin and collagen, which contribute to the formation of new cartilage tissue |
According to some versions, white cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants contain substances that destroy collagen and chondroitin - the "building blocks" of cartilage tissue However, some studies refute the damage they cause in arthrosis |
| Rice, millet, and buckwheat contain complex carbohydrates that promote synovial fluid production |
Egg yolk, cod liver - increases the risk of developing gout |
| Cottage cheese, cheese - sources of calcium |
Coffee - removes calcium from the body, which has a beneficial effect on bones and joints. |
| Apples, broccoli, beans, pumpkin, zucchini, parsley, dill, cucumber, carrots, celery, spinach, cereals, currants, grapefruit, pomegranate, papaya, almonds - the healthiest plant-based foods It is rich in ingredients beneficial for joints |
Alcohol interferes with normal nutrition and the metabolic processes of the joints |
| Water (1.5-2 liters per day) – helps to normalize metabolism in the body and especially in the joints Fruit juices (fruits and vegetables listed above) |
Salt - can lead to aggravation |
Physical education
If arthrosis of the knee has developed, therapeutic exercises must be performed daily.Special exercises stimulate blood circulation in the joint, which prevents further destructive processes in the cartilage.Exercise therapy increases the mobility of the affected knee and prevents pain.However, in acute cases of the disease, any exercise is contraindicated.
Therapeutic gymnastics for knee joints by Dr. Evdokimenko
The goal of this physiotherapy complex is to make the muscles surrounding the joint work without strain.Gymnastics using the Evdokimenko method shows very good results in arthrosis of the knee joint.
Exercises:
- Lie on your stomach, straighten your legs, arms at your sides.Raise your straight leg above the floor to a height of 15 cm, tighten the gluteal and thigh muscles.Hold this leg position for 30-40 seconds.Put it down.Repeat the movement 1 time with each leg.
- Raise your straight leg 15 cm above the floor and hold for 1-3 seconds.Return to original position (IP).Do 10-12 reps on each leg.
- Bend your knees 90 degrees.Raise your bent leg 10 cm from the floor and hold for 30-40 seconds.Do this movement 1 time with each leg.Then repeat the same exercise, but hold both legs for 1-3 seconds.Do 10-12 repetitions on each leg.
- Raise both straight legs above the floor by 10-15 cm.Extend them to the side and bring them back.Without lowering your feet to the floor, do the movements 8 times.In this case, the thigh muscles should work as much as possible.
- Lie on your side.Bend your lower leg at the knee.Keep your upper body straight and raise it 45 degrees above the floor.Hold this for 30-40 seconds.Do the exercise 1 time on each leg.
- Sit on a chair.Raise your legs at the knees as straight as possible.Hold for 30 seconds.Raise both legs 2-4 times.
- Up.Lean against the back of the chair.Stand on your toes.Hold for 30-60 seconds.Back to IP.
- Stand on your toes and hold this position for 1-3 seconds.Back to IP.Repeat the movement 10-12 times.
- Place your right foot completely on the floor.Stand on the toe of your left foot.Use your right leg to rise smoothly onto your toes and lower your left heel to the floor.Roll like this 10-12 times.
The author's physical education is more intensive than the previous one.It is possible only at the first signs of gonarthrosis.Be sure to consult your doctor before starting to exercise on your own.
If you feel severe pain during movement, stop immediately.
Surgical methods
Since arthrosis of the knee joint cannot be cured by completely conservative methods, doctors use surgical techniques in severe cases.
One of the most effective is the knee prosthesis, i.e. replacing the rubbing surfaces of the joint with an artificial one.
The recovery period after endoprosthesis is 3-6 months.
The following surgical procedures are also performed:
- arthroplasty - plastic surgery to restore the normal structure of the joint;
- corrective osteotomies – correction of valgus or varus deformities of the legs, which may occur in advanced forms of arthrosis.
Folk remedies
Home remedies can be a wonderful addition to traditional therapy.
However, before treating arthrosis of the knee joint with folk remedies, consult your doctor, because some natural ingredients may have contraindications or may not be combined with the medications you are prescribed.
Here are some effective, proven recipes:
- Beef hooves and knees - helps restore cartilage tissue.Boil them for several hours.Drink 100 ml of broth before each meal.
- Honey, apple cider vinegar - relieves swelling and pain.The components are mixed in a ratio of 3:1.Make a poultice in the evening and apply it for 30 minutes.
- Chicory - helps relieve pain.Pour 350 g of crushed leaves and stems of chicory into 2 liters of boiling water.Cool to room temperature.Soak a gauze pad in the infusion and place it on the painful joint.
Prevention
Preventive measures are very simple:
- Exercise, but don't overload your knees.Never run on asphalt.Special tracks or dirt roads are suitable for running.
- Avoid knee injuries or treat them immediately.In case of bruises and sprains, immediately consult a traumatologist and follow all his recommendations.
- Eat right.
- Give up bad habits.
Forecast
Arthrosis is a disease that cannot be completely cured by conservative methods.
However, don't despair.Provided you strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations, you can avoid complications, relieve pain and improve the range of motion of the joint.
Do not delay the visit to the specialist, as it can lead to deformation and disability of the foot in the later stages of the disease.Modern medicine treats them surgically.