What are the causes of arthrosis of the knee joint

Osteoarthritis - a lesion of cartilaginous tissues that cover the surface of all joints. Most often, this disease occurs in those whose age is more than 50 years, athletes and those who lead a very active lifestyle.

Almost ¾ of the population displays some signs of arthrosis on the knee, hip joints and spine. The disease has one more name - a deforming kind, as in the started cases it causes deformation of the joints.

Causes of

Disease As with any other disease, knee arthrosis has causes.

1. The most common cause of arthrosis is injury: dislocation, meniscus damage, fracture of the shin. As a result, the knee can change shape and deform, which leads to stagnant phenomena in the joint.
2. In the second place( 50% of cases) among the causes of deforming arthrosis of the knee joint is the spasm of the muscles of the anterior surface of the thighs. To check the presence of spasm, you need to lie on your stomach, bend your leg and pull the heel to the buttock. If there is a spasm, it will be impossible to do because of the pain.
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3. Excess weight in 10% of cases leads to arthrosis due to damage to the meniscus.
4. Excessive physical activity that does not correspond to age, in 7% of cases is also. This is due to overload of joints and destruction of cartilage.
5. Arthritis is accompanied by swelling of the knee joint and accumulation of fluid in it.
6. The next cause of arthrosis of the knee joint is congenital weakness of the ligaments and impaired sensation in the legs with certain nervous diseases.
7. Disturbed metabolism complicates the course of arthrosis.
   Stages of the disease

At the initial stage, there is a change in the biochemical composition of the synovial fluid that feeds the cartilage and meniscus, which leads to loss of joint ability to withstand load, inflammation and pain. At the second stage, the cartilage begins to degenerate, and the muscles work. The third stage is a sharp kind of knee joint disease, which is accompanied by bone deformation and muscle stretching.

Methods of treating the disease

There are many methods for curing arthrosis.

1. Use of non-steroidal( non-hormonal) anti-inflammatory drugs: piroxicam, diclofenac, ketoprofen, indomethacin, butadione, meloxicam. .. These drugs relieve inflammation and pain, but do not heal. They are not recommended to be used for a long time, as they lead to dehydration of the cartilage tissue, which accelerates the destruction.
2. The use of chondroprotectors( substances that restore the structure of cartilage) - glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. They not only relieve symptoms, but also restore the surface of the cartilage, increase the amount of joint fluid. These drugs are effective at stage 1 of the disease( although the effect does not come immediately, sometimes you need to go through several courses), but on the third - practically do not give any results.
3. There are creams and ointment from arthrosis, but they do not heal, but only relieve the pain. You can use warming ointments to improve blood circulation( Menovazine, Espol and others) or creams based on non-steroid substances( Indomethacin, Voltaren-gel, Dolgit, Fastum-gel).
4. Compresses based on dimexide( anti-inflammatory and analgesic action), medical bile( dissolving and warming effect) and bischofite( warming, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect).
5. The injections in the joint facilitate the condition, i.e.serve for emergency help. Corticosteroids( hydrocortisone, diprospan, celeston) are used. These drugs do not treat, well, improve the state of cartilage, do not restore blood circulation, do not strengthen the bone, but only reduce inflammation.
6. Physiotherapy and manual therapy help in 1-2 stages of the disease.
7. Using a walking stick removes up to 40% of the load on the affected joint. The main principle: with arthrosis of the right knee joint, the stick is held in the left hand, if the left leg hurts, then in the right one, so that part of the weight is transferred from the aching joint to the cane.
8. Medical gymnastics, which strengthens muscles and improves blood circulation. Better before starting classes consult a specialist who will show a suitable set of exercises.

Prevention of the disease is primary( weight control, injury prevention, wearing suitable footwear, moderate and regular physical activity) and secondary( proper nutrition, fitness and weight control).