Osteoarthritis of the knee joint occurs in one in five Europeans.Experts estimate that only 40 percent of cases of degenerative osteoarthritis are a result of aging.For the remaining 60 percent, this is due to overwork, injuries and physical inactivity.Knee diseases are the price we pay for our lifestyle.
Degenerative changes in the knee joints (osteoarthritis and arthritis) develop slowly and gradually progress, destroying the cartilage.At the same time, there are several forms of this disease.Post-traumatic osteoarthritis occurs after all types of knee injuries, such as:E.g., ligament strains, knee injuries, meniscus injuries, etc. In many cases, the disease is caused by changes in the skeletal system of the muscles of the lower extremities or the spine, which lead to incorrect load distribution in the knee joint.A common cause of osteoarthritis is overweight and obesity.In older people, the destruction of the knee joint is explained by the natural aging of the body and endocrine disorders: hypothyroidism, acromegaly, systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and chronic inflammatory arthritis, as well as other diseases of the musculoskeletal system (rheumatoid arthritis and gout).
Symptoms
The symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint initially appear only very mildly, so the patient ignores them.You should be careful if you notice phenomena such as:
- limited mobility of the joints after standing up;
- Pain when attempting to squat;
- difficulty straightening the leg;
- swelling and heat in the knee joints after exercise;
- Crunching in the joints.
As osteoarthritis progresses, the arthritis affects normal walking.A person feels pain when trying to sit down, stand up, or simply move.However, if you start treatment on time, you can restore the functionality of the knee joint.
Exercises for joints
Special exercises that must be performed regularly will help overcome arthrosis of the knee joints.They stimulate blood circulation in the knees, which means that the cartilage tissue begins to recover.Attention!If you suffer from post-traumatic arthrosis, you should consult a traumatologist before performing any exercises.
- After waking up, without getting up, slowly perform the “bicycle” exercise.The range of motion of the legs should be maximum.
- The next exercise against osteoarthritis is also carried out lying down.Bend one leg at the knee and straighten the other, pulling your toes toward you as much as possible.Switch legs.Repeat the movements several times.
- Throughout the day, it is helpful for knee health to do this simple exercise: sit on the floor, place a support under your heels and keep your legs horizontal.Then, without bending your knees, you should pull your toes towards you.Repeat several times.
- When sitting in a chair at the office or at home, stretch your legs forward so that your knees are as straight as possible.Pull your toes towards you.This exercise should be done as often as possible, otherwise you will forget what osteoarthritis is.
Experts point out: With regular physical activity, the symptoms of knee joint disease are significantly reduced or disappear completely.You can find many videos with useful exercises on the Internet.
Treatment
In the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint, all possible home methods are used - cold and hot compresses, wraps, ointments.Proper nutrition plays an important role.By adding a few simple foods to your diet, you can quickly cure arthrosis in the knee joint without spending a lot of money.How to do this, read below.
Cold compresses
Ice packs are recommended if pain is accompanied by swelling of the knee joint and overheating.Squeeze your legs tightly together, place ice packs on top, and place your legs on an elevated surface.You should not move your lower limbs for half an hour.Ice has an anti-inflammatory effect and brings quick relief.However, it only helps in the early stages of osteoarthritis.
Warm compresses
When treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint, warm compresses are only used if there is no swelling.It relieves pain before physical training.However, you must be careful not to burn or irritate your skin.
Essential oils
Essential oils have properties that can help relieve knee pain when used on the skin.Many essential oils have a pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effect.
Essential oils contain not only aromatic compounds, but also chemical components that have a very positive effect on the joints.The latter include terpenoids and terpenes, hydrocarbons and aldehydes, organic acids, amines.They all have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and regenerating effects.They penetrate the skin by rubbing and moisten the joint, which is particularly important if there is a lack of synovial fluid.
If you suffer from osteoarthritis, take advantage of the healing power of essential oils.To do this, it is recommended to make a simple homemade ointment: add a few drops of the selected oil to regular petroleum jelly and mix the product.
How to choose essential oil for arthrosis of the joints?Focus on your symptoms.
Peppermint oil will relieve pain and cool your knees a little, rosemary oil will improve blood circulation (that is, it should be used for osteoarthritis caused by a sedentary lifestyle), and lavender oil will relieve inflammation.
It is also important not to make mistakes when purchasing essential oils.How to distinguish a quality product from a fake - search for videos on this topic on the Internet.
Hirudotherapy
Treatment with leeches (hirudotherapy) gives amazing results in diseases of the knee joints (osteoarthritis, arthritis, bursitis, etc.).The thing is that leeches thin the blood, improve blood circulation and eliminate all blockages.They help in any case, regardless of what type of arthrosis you have: post-traumatic, senile, etc. Leeches should be placed in the immediate vicinity of the knee, large arteries should be avoided.There is a break of 4-7 days between procedures.In total, your treatment includes 3-5 sessions of hirudotherapy.There are many videos on the Internet on how to properly deal with leeches.
Honey wrap
Honey wraps help relieve knee pain and treat early-stage osteoarthritis.Simply smear the affected areas with natural honey and apply a loose honey bandage over them.It is recommended to carry out this procedure at night.Continue treatment until the arthrosis of the joints completely disappears.
Comfrey wrap
To treat arthrosis of the knee joint with folk remedies, comfrey is often used, as this plant strengthens cartilage tissue and helps build it in case of degenerative changes in the joints.Melt 200 g of pork fat (lard) in a water bath, add 2 tablespoons of chopped comfrey and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.After cooling, pour the resulting drug into a glass container and store in the refrigerator.To get rid of arthrosis, lubricate your knees with comfrey at night and put a bandage over them.
Slippery Elm Wraps
Slippery elm is an excellent folk remedy for arthrosis of the knee joint.You can prepare ointments from it according to the recipe given above (200 g of lard + 2 tablespoons of crushed elm bark).Do the wraps every evening until the osteoarthritis or arthritis has completely disappeared.
Harpagophytum
The plant Harpagophytum is also popularly called “devil’s claw”.It is successfully used in the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joints, as well as other degenerative diseases (such as arthritis, osteoporosis, etc.).Recipe: Pour 2 tablespoons of dried harpagophytum root into a thermos, pour 1 liter of boiling water and let sit for at least 2 hours.To successfully treat arthrosis, you need to drink 3-4 glasses of the resulting medicine in warm form every day.
Bishofite salt
Bichofit salt is a unique natural product that arose millions of years ago as a result of climate change - the evaporation of seawater and the enrichment of salt with deposits of uncontaminated microelements.It helps to cure arthrosis and arthritis, including post-traumatic (there are many videos on the Internet about the healing properties of this drug).Simply treat yourself to a warm bath every two days with 1 glass of bischofite salt dissolved in it.Continue treatment until osteoarthritis and arthritis have completely disappeared.
Massage for sore knees
During the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joints, do not forget to massage regularly.It is recommended to lubricate the skin with a mixture of olive and lavender oils.Try to relax your legs, grab your kneecaps with your hands and move them slightly left and right and back and forth.Pain relief occurs almost immediately.
Ginger
Ginger has long been used to treat stomach disorders.Scientists have recently found that this product also relieves knee pain, thereby alleviating the symptoms of joint osteoarthritis.In a study of 261 patients with moderate to severe knee pain, ginger was shown to reduce pain when walking and standing.Therefore, include this spice in your daily diet and you will forget what arthrosis or arthritis of the joints is.
We will also tell you how to make compresses from ginger.Grind the root of the plant on a grater so that you get about 2 tablespoons of raw material.Add the juice of a small onion, mix well and apply a thick layer to the painful joints.Cover the top with foil and secure it with a bandage.This compress for osteoarthritis should be worn for at least 3 hours, but it is better to wear it all night long.Repeat the treatment every 2-3 days until the unpleasant symptoms completely disappear.
turmeric
You will be surprised, but turmeric is the most popular folk remedy for knee osteoarthritis in India.Adding this spice to your food can do wonders as turmeric contains the enzyme curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties.Canadian scientists conducted animal studies and found that curcumin reduces joint inflammation by inhibiting the enzyme that causes the condition.There is only one conclusion: if you want to treat arthrosis and arthritis, add turmeric to your daily menu.
turpentine
Turpentine has long been used to treat arthrosis of the knee joint.It also helps fight sciatica and arthritis.How do you apply it?Rub the joint area with turpentine at night, apply a warm bandage and go to bed.The next morning you will notice that osteoarthritis no longer bothers you.
Warming compress
Here is another recipe for a warm compress for osteoarthritis.Mix 100 ml of pure alcohol with 50 g of mustard powder, 50 g of gasoline and 50 g of camphor.Beat the whites of two or three eggs separately and mix all the ingredients together.The resulting ointment should be lubricated in places where arthrosis or arthritis of the joints occurs at night.Continue treatment until the disease is completely cured.
Pine baths
Osteoarthritis and arthritis of the joints can also be treated with pine baths.How are they made?Boil 1 liter of chopped young coniferous branches over low heat for 5-7 minutes, pour the broth into the bath and dilute with warm water.The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes.After the bath, do not rub yourself with a towel, just pat your body dry.
Dandelion flowers
And now we will tell you how to treat arthrosis of the knee joint with the help of dandelion.Everything is very simple here: in spring, when the dandelion blooms, you should pick 3-4 flowers a day, rinse them under running water and then chew them thoroughly.The taste is not very pleasant, but what can't you do about osteoarthritis?
But for the winter, prepare an alcohol tincture of dandelion flowers: to do this, you need to fill it whole with pure alcohol, keep it in a cool, dark place for a month, and then strain it.As soon as you are overwhelmed by arthritis, lubricate your knees with this alcohol tincture.