From this article you will learn everything about arthrosis of the knee joint: what it is, for what reasons it occurs, what are the manifestations at different stages.How to treat it, how to prevent the disease.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) is a degenerative pathology of the joint in which cartilage is destroyed, muscles and ligaments are damaged, and bones are deformed.
The disease occurs mainly after 40 years of age (12–16% of people at this age are affected).Women get sick 2 times more often than men.Athletes and people engaged in heavy physical labor are susceptible to the disease.
Gonarthrosis develops gradually and is accompanied by pain in the joint:
- joint mobility decreases;
- bone and cartilage tissue grows, which interfere 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 for arthrosis of the knee joint is possible only at the initial stages of the development of the process (1 and 2), it allows you to slow down and stop the development of the pathology.
As the disease progresses, treatment is only surgical.You can completely (100%) get rid of the pathology only with endoprosthetics - knee replacement.
Diagnosis and treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint is carried out by an orthopedic traumatologist and other doctors.According to indications, a consultation with a rheumatologist is scheduled.A sports doctor can also identify symptoms of the disease.
Causes of the disease and types
Depending on the factor that provokes the disease, there are 2 types of knee arthrosis:
Primary (idiopathic)
This type of arthrosis affects middle-aged and elderly people.The initial stages are diagnosed after 40 years, and over the age of 70, gonarthrosis is detected in 60% of people.Often 2 joints are affected at the same time.
Primary arthrosis occurs due to changes that occur in the body with age, deterioration of blood circulation and slowdown 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 affect both 2 joints at the same time and 1.
The reasons are:
- Heavy stress on the legs.
- Injuries to ligaments, knee menisci, intra-articular fractures.
- Diseases in which metabolic processes are disrupted (disorders of the parathyroid glands, diabetes, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, gout, mucopolysaccharidosis and other diseases).
- Connective tissue diseases.
- Inflammatory pathologies (infectious and non-infectious synovitis and arthritis), hemophilia (a rare hereditary disease associated with blood clotting disorders).
Next, we will look in more detail at what it is - arthrosis of the knee joint, its degree, what changes begin in the tissues during pathology.
Symptoms and three stages of the disease
As the disease progresses, the cartilage begins to become thinner due to heavy loads or lack of nutrients.This provokes friction between the bones that articulate into the knee joint.
Erosion on bone tissue is formed as a protective reaction of the body - 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, when walking up the stairs, after long exercise and hypothermia Stiffness in the knees in the morning Synovitis may develop - an accumulation of fluid in the joint, which must be removed using a puncture (puncture of a cavity with fluid and its collection) |
The cartilage surface becomes rough and dry Cracks and ulcerations form on it |
| 2 |
Pain appears even as a result of slight exertion and becomes more pronounced with active walking. The leg does not bend completely, the joint periodically crunches The knee visually expands The risk of synovitis increases even more |
In response to increased loads on the joint, it seems to become flat The formation of osteophytes - bone growths begins 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 impossible Joint volume increases Walking is difficult, many people start using crutches or a cane Valgus deformity of the legs (X-shaped leg position) or varus deformity (O-shaped leg position) may appear. |
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
Acute arthrosis of the knee joint is a time when the disease progresses faster and is more pronounced clinically.
Exacerbation may result from:
- 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 stiffness in your joint that appears in the morning or after sitting for a long time, as well as pain when walking down stairs or squatting, this may be a sign of stage 1 gonarthrosis.
To make an accurate diagnosis, come to an appointment with a general practitioner, who will refer you to an orthopedist or other doctor.
Before treating osteoarthritis or gonarthrosis, the doctor will conduct an initial examination and palpation of the joint, and also refer to:
- radiography - will help assess the condition of the joint;
- Ultrasound will allow you to determine whether there is a concomitant inflammatory process.
Treatment methods
With arthrosis of the knee joint, its symptoms and treatment are interconnected, since many therapeutic measures are aimed specifically at eliminating disturbing signs and improving a person’s quality of life.
Taking medications, diet and exercise therapy:
- slow down further destructive processes in cartilage;
- prevent the disease from progressing to a more advanced stage.
It is impossible to completely cure the disease, but it is possible to stop and slow down the development of the pathology.
Diet
The goal of following a diet is to slow down 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 (no more than 3 pieces per day and preferably without yolks) - serve as sources of proteins |
Fatty meat, sausages, sausages - lead to weight gain, which creates additional stress on the joint and also interferes with the normal formation of synovial fluid |
| Fish, especially red varieties, are rich in Omega-3 |
Flour, sweets, mayonnaise, fast food - foods that contribute to excess weight gain |
| Jellied meat made from bone broth, gelatin - contain chondroitin and collagen, which contribute to the formation of new cartilage tissue |
White cabbage, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplants, according to some versions, contain substances that destroy collagen and chondroitin - “building blocks” for cartilage tissue However, some studies refute their harm in arthrosis |
| Rice, millet, and buckwheat contain complex carbohydrates that promote the formation of synovial fluid |
Egg yolks, cod liver – increase the risk of developing gout |
| Cottage cheese, cheese - sources of calcium |
Coffee – leaches calcium from the body, which is beneficial for bones and joints. |
| Apples, broccoli, beans, pumpkin, zucchini, parsley, dill, cucumbers, carrots, celery, spinach, cereals, currants, grapefruit, pomegranate, papaya, almonds - the healthiest foods of plant origin Rich in joint-beneficial ingredients |
Alcohol disrupts normal nutrition and metabolic processes in the joints |
| Water (1.5–2 liters per day) – helps normalize metabolism in the body and in the joints in particular Juices (those fruits and vegetables listed above) |
Salt - can lead to aggravation |
Physical training
If you have developed arthrosis of the knee, therapeutic exercises should be done daily.Special exercises help stimulate blood circulation in the joint, which will prevent further destructive processes in the cartilage.Exercise therapy will also increase the mobility of the affected knee and prevent pain.However, any gymnastics is contraindicated in acute cases of the disease.
Therapeutic gymnastics for knee joints by Dr. Evdokimenko
The goal of this complex of therapeutic exercises is to make the muscles that surround the joint work without loading it.Gymnastics using the Evdokimenko method shows very good results for 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 your buttocks and thigh muscles.Hold this leg position for 30–40 seconds.Put it down.Repeat the movement with each leg 1 time.
- Raise your straight leg above the floor by 15 cm and hold it for 1–3 seconds.Return to original position (IP).Do 10-12 repetitions for each leg.
- Bend your knee 90 degrees.Raise your bent leg to a height of 10 cm from the floor and hold it for 30-40 seconds.Do this movement with each leg 1 time.Then repeat the same exercise, but hold each leg for 1-3 seconds.Perform 10-12 repetitions on each leg.
- Raise two straight legs above the floor by 10–15 cm. Spread them to the sides and bring them back.Without lowering your feet to the floor, perform 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.Leave the top one straight and raise it above the floor by 45 degrees.Hold it this way 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 toes.Hold for 30–60 seconds.Return to IP.
- Stand on your toes and hold this position for 1-3 seconds.Return to IP.Repeat the movement 10-12 times.
- Place your right foot completely on the floor.Stand on the toe of your left foot.Smoothly rise onto your toes with your right foot and lower your left heel to the floor.Roll like this 10–12 times.
This author's physical education is more intense than the previous one.It is possible only at the first signs of gonarthrosis.Before you start practicing on your own, be sure to consult with your doctor.
If you feel severe pain when performing movements, stop immediately.
Surgical methods
Since it is impossible to cure arthrosis of the knee joint using completely conservative methods, in severe cases doctors resort to surgical techniques.
One of the most effective is knee replacement, i.e. replacing the rubbing surfaces of the joint with artificial ones.
The recovery period after endoprosthetics is from 3 to 6 months.
The following surgical interventions 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 that could occur with advanced forms of arthrosis.
Folk remedies
Homemade remedies can serve as a wonderful complement to traditional therapy.
However, before treating knee arthrosis using folk remedies, consult your doctor, because some natural ingredients may have contraindications or may not be combined with the medications you have been prescribed.
Here are some effective, time-tested recipes:
- Beef hooves and knees - help restore cartilage tissue.Boil 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. In the evening, make compresses and apply for 30 minutes.
- Jerusalem artichoke - helps relieve pain.Pour 350 g of crushed leaves and stems of Jerusalem artichoke into 2 liters of boiling water.Cool to room temperature.Soak a gauze bandage in the infusion and apply it to the sore joint.
Prevention
Preventive measures are very simple:
- Exercise, but don't put too much stress on your knees.Never run on asphalt.Special tracks or dirt 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
Arthrosis is a disease that cannot be completely cured with 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 in the joint.
Do not delay a visit to a specialist, as in the later stages the disease can lead to leg deformities and disability.Modern medicine treats them surgically.