In this article you will learn everything about arthrosis of the knee joint: what it is, why it occurs, what manifestations there are in the different stages.How to treat it, how to prevent the disease.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) is a degenerative disease of the joint in which cartilage is destroyed, muscles and ligaments are damaged and bones are deformed.
The disease occurs mainly after the age of 40 (12-16% of people of this age are affected).Women get sick 2 times more often than men.Athletes and people who perform 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 affects the normal function of the joint.
Over time, this leads to complete immobility of the joint.Without treatment, the disease leads to disability.
Conservative therapy for arthrosis of the knee joint is possible only in the initial stages of the development of the process (1 and 2) and allows you to slow down and stop the development of the pathology.
As the disease progresses, treatment is only surgical.Only with endoprosthetics - knee joint replacement - can you completely (100%) eliminate the pathology.
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.A sports doctor can also recognize symptoms of the disease.
Causes and types of the disease
Depending on the factor provoking the disease, there are two types of knee arthrosis:
Primary (idiopathic)
This type of osteoarthritis affects middle-aged and elderly people.The first stages are diagnosed after the age of 40, and over the age of 70, gonarthrosis is detected in 60% of people.Often two joints are affected at the same time.
Primary osteoarthritis occurs due to changes in the body with age, a deterioration in blood circulation and a slowdown in metabolism.The risk of developing it increases with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.
Secondary form
Secondary – can occur in people of any age, affecting two joints and one of them at the same time.
The reasons are:
- Heavy strain on the legs.
- Injuries to ligaments, knee menisci, intra-articular fractures.
- Diseases in which metabolic processes are disturbed (parathyroid diseases, diabetes, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, gout, mucopolysaccharidosis and other diseases).
- Connective tissue diseases.
- Inflammatory diseases (infectious and non-infectious synovitis and arthritis), hemophilia (a rare hereditary disease associated with blood clotting disorders).
Next, we will take a closer look at what it is - arthrosis of the knee joint, its extent, what changes in the tissues begin during pathology.
Symptoms and three stages of the disease
As the disease progresses, the cartilage begins to become thinner due to heavy stress or lack of nutrients.This causes friction between the bones that connect together in the knee joint.
As a protective reaction of the body, erosion occurs on bone tissue - the formation of growths on it begins.All these factors lead to deformation of the knee joint and its limited mobility.
Symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint in 3 stages:
| stage | Clinical signs | Processes occurring in the joint |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
May be asymptomatic Possible pain in the knees in the morning, when squatting, climbing stairs, after long training and hypothermia Stiffness in the knees in the morning Synovitis may develop - an accumulation of fluid in the joint, which must be removed through a puncture (puncture of a cavity with fluid and its collection). |
The cartilage surface becomes rough and dry Cracks and ulcers form |
| 2 |
Pain occurs even with slight exertion and increases with active walking. The leg does not bend completely, the joint crunches regularly The knee visually expands The risk of synovitis increases even further |
When there is increased stress on the joint, it appears to become flat The formation of osteophytes – bone growth begins The synovial fluid becomes thicker and less nutritious Destructive processes in cartilage accelerate |
| 3 |
The pain becomes chronic and haunts the patient even at rest. Both full flexion and full extension of the knee are not possible The joint volume increases Walking is difficult and many people resort to crutches or a cane Valgus deformity of the legs (X-shaped leg position) or varus deformity (O-shaped leg position) can occur. |
There is almost no cartilage tissue The bones are deformed and “pressed” into each other, which leads to limited mobility in the joint |
Acute form
In acute osteoarthritis of the knee joint, the disease progresses more quickly and is clinically more pronounced.
An aggravation can have the following causes:
- too much strain on the joint;
- hypothermia;
- non-compliance with the prescribed diet;
- Injury.
Sometimes gonarthrosis begins acutely, as if the first stage is bypassed.This is possible due to a knee injury.
diagnosis
If you notice stiffness in your joint that occurs in the morning or after sitting for a long time, as well as pain when climbing stairs or squatting, this may be a sign of stage 1 gonarthrosis.
To make an accurate diagnosis, make an appointment with a general practitioner who will refer you to an orthopedist or other doctor.
Before treating arthrosis or gonarthrosis, the doctor carries out an initial examination and palpation of the joint, and also refers to:
- Radiography – helps assess the condition of the joint;
- With the ultrasound examination you can determine whether there is an accompanying inflammatory process.
Treatment methods
In the case of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, symptoms and treatment are related, as many therapeutic measures are aimed specifically at eliminating bothersome symptoms and improving the person's quality of life.
Taking medication, diet and exercise therapy:
- slow down further destructive processes in the cartilage;
- prevent the disease from reaching a more advanced stage.
It is impossible to completely cure the disease, but it is possible to stop and slow down the development of pathology.
diet
The aim of a diet is to slow down the further progression of the disease.
What to add and what to exclude from the menu:
| Healthy products | Prohibited products |
|---|---|
| Rabbit, turkey, chicken, dairy products, eggs (no more than 3 pieces per day and preferably without yolks) serve as protein sources. |
Fatty meat, sausages, sausages - lead to weight gain, which puts additional strain on the joint and also impairs the normal formation of synovial fluid |
| Fish, especially red varieties, are rich in omega-3 |
Flour, sweets, mayonnaise, fast food – foods that contribute to weight gain |
| Jellied meat 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 and eggplants contain substances that destroy collagen and chondroitin - “building blocks” for cartilage tissue However, some studies refute their harm in osteoarthritis |
| Rice, millet and buckwheat contain complex carbohydrates that promote the formation of synovial fluid |
Egg yolk, cod liver – increase the risk of developing gout |
| Cottage cheese, cheese – sources of calcium |
Coffee – removes calcium from the body, which has a positive effect on bones and joints. |
| Apples, broccoli, beans, pumpkin, zucchini, parsley, dill, cucumbers, carrots, celery, spinach, grains, currants, grapefruit, pomegranate, papaya, almonds - the healthiest foods of plant origin Rich in joint-supporting ingredients |
Alcohol disrupts normal nutrition and metabolic processes in the joints |
| Water (1.5-2 liters per day) – contributes to the normalization of metabolism in the body and especially in the joints Juices (the fruits and vegetables listed above) |
Salt – may cause aggravation |
Physical education
If you have knee osteoarthritis, therapeutic exercises should be performed daily.Special exercises stimulate blood circulation in the joint and thus prevent further destructive processes in the cartilage.Exercise therapy also increases the mobility of the affected knee and prevents pain.However, any gymnastics is contraindicated in acute illness.
Therapeutic gymnastics for knee joints from Dr.Evdokimenko
The aim of this therapeutic exercise complex is to get the muscles surrounding the joint to work without putting any strain on it.Gymnastics according to the Evdokimenko method shows very good results for arthrosis of the knee joint.
Exercises:
- Lie on your stomach, stretch your legs, arms at your sides.Raise your straight leg to a height of 15 cm above the floor and tense your glutes 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 6 inches above the floor and hold for 1-3 seconds.Return to original position (IP).Do 10-12 reps for each leg.
- Bend your knee 90 degrees.Raise your bent leg to a height of 10 cm from the floor and hold for 30-40 seconds.Do this movement once with each leg.Then repeat the same exercise but hold each leg for 1-3 seconds.Perform 10-12 repetitions on each leg.
- Raise two straight legs 10-15 cm above the floor.Spread them to the sides and bring them back.Perform the movements eight times without lowering your feet to the floor.In this case, the thigh muscles should be stressed as much as possible.
- Lie on your side.Bend your lower leg at the knee.Leave the top one straight and raise it 45 degrees above the ground.Hold it like this for 30-40 seconds.Perform the exercise 1 time on each leg.
- Sit on a chair.Raise your leg as straight as possible at the knee.Hold it for 30 seconds.Raise each leg 2-4 times.
- Stand up.Lean against the back of the chair.Stand on your tiptoes.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 fully on the floor.Stand on the toe of your left foot.Gently stand on tiptoe with your right foot and lower your left heel to the floor.Roll like this 10-12 times.
This author's physical education class is more intense than the previous one.This is only possible at the first signs of gonarthrosis.Before you start practicing on your own, be sure to consult your doctor.
If you feel severe pain while performing the movements, stop immediately.
Surgical methods
Since arthrosis of the knee joint cannot be cured using completely conservative methods, doctors resort to surgical techniques in severe cases.
One of the most effective methods is knee joint replacement, i.e. replacing the friction surfaces of the joint with artificial ones.
The recovery period after endoprosthetics is 3 to 6 months.
In addition, the following surgical interventions are performed:
- Arthroplasty – plastic surgery to restore normal joint structure;
- Corrective osteotomies – correction of valgus or varus deformities of the legs that can occur in advanced forms of osteoarthritis.
Folk remedies
Home remedies can be a wonderful addition to traditional therapy.
However, before treating knee arthrosis with folk remedies, consult your doctor, as some natural ingredients may have contraindications or cannot be combined with the medications you have prescribed.
Here are some effective, proven recipes:
- Cattle hooves and knees – help restore cartilage tissue.Cook them for several hours.Drink 100 ml of broth before each meal.
- Honey, apple cider vinegar – relieve swelling and pain.Mix the components in a ratio of 3 to 1. Make compresses in the evening and apply them for 30 minutes.
- Jerusalem artichoke – relieves pain.Pour 350 g of crushed leaves and stems of Jerusalem artichoke into 2 liters of boiling water.Allow to cool to room temperature.Soak a gauze bandage with the infusion and apply it to the painful joint.
Prevention
Preventative measures are very simple:
- Exercise, but don't put too much strain on your knees.Never run on asphalt.Special routes or unpaved roads are suitable for running.
- Avoid knee injuries or treat them promptly.In case of bruises and sprains, immediately contact a traumatologist and follow all his recommendations.
- Eat right.
- Give up bad habits.
forecast
Osteoarthritis is a disease that cannot be completely cured using conservative methods.
However, don't despair.If you strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations, you can avoid complications, relieve pain and improve joint mobility.
Do not hesitate to consult a specialist, as the disease can cause leg deformities and disability in its later stages.Modern medicine treats them surgically.