Arthrosis is a disease that can lead to disability. In its final stages, the only possible treatment is prosthetics, i.e. complete joint replacement. To prevent this, it is necessary to pay due attention to the problem in the initial stages of development, while there is still cartilage tissue in the joint.
The main method of therapy in the early stages is medication. Daily use of medications (chondroprotectors, analgesics, etc.) increases the risk of side effects. Physiotherapy for arthrosis can enhance the effect of drugs, reduce their dosage and side effects.
It runs courses several times a year. The type of physiotherapy is chosen by the physiotherapist based on the patient’s condition, various indications and contraindications. It also happens that such treatment is absolutely contraindicated.
Physiotherapy – the ability to deliver medicine “exactly to the address”
The following physiotherapeutic methods used in the treatment of arthrosis can be distinguished:
exposure to a magnetic field;
radiation exposure (infrared, ultraviolet, laser radiation).
Let's take a closer look at them.
This therapy method is based on the principle of the movement of charged particles in an electromagnetic field. The ions of the drug substance act as charged particles, and the electric field is created using two electrodes installed in the right places. For example, this could be the area of the knee joint.
During electrophoresis, a current strength is used that is not felt by the patient during the procedure. Between the electrode and the patient’s body there is a napkin soaked in a medicinal substance, which is planned to be injected into the problem area. When an electric current appears between the electrodes, the patient’s body becomes its conductor. Drug ions from the napkin rush through the skin under the electrode into deeper layers. As a result, in this place (and only in this place) a high concentration of medicine is created, which immediately begins to work (relieve pain, inflammation, improve nutrition of the joint, etc.)
Thanks to electrophoresis, the medicine is administered and acts locally, without having a systemic effect on the body, and, therefore, most side effects are eliminated. In this case, the skin is not damaged, as, for example, with injections.
After a course of procedures, a “depot” of the medicinal substance is created in the affected area under the skin. It remains there for a long time (up to 3 weeks), providing a therapeutic effect.
In the photo - a device for electrophoresis
Ultrasound is also often used for arthrosis of various locations. This method is based on the ability of high-frequency sound, when exposed to biological tissues, to cause a number of beneficial effects (micromassage, warming, improvement of capillary blood flow and metabolism in tissues).
When ultrasound is applied to a joint damaged by arthrosis, cell metabolism improves, more nutrients enter the joint, and it becomes more resilient. After all, as you know, cartilage tissue is not restored, so the main strategic goal of treating arthrosis is to preserve the remaining part of the joint.
The magnetic field has also found its application in medicine. Scientists have found that with a certain effect of a magnetic field on biological tissue, many useful effects can be obtained, such as:
Magnetic physiotherapy for arthrosis improves metabolic processes in the damaged joint and reduces inflammatory reactions in it (which also lead to its destruction).
Magnetic therapy can be either local or general. The first improves the condition of only a certain part of the body, while the general one improves the protective and restorative characteristics of the entire organism.
Various light ranges, as well as laser radiation in the right quantities, also help fight arthrosis. Exposure to light and laser can be indicated when other physiotherapeutic methods are contraindicated. Radiation therapy can also complement other physical treatment methods.
Laser exposure to the affected area
There are both general contraindications to all types of physiotherapy, and contraindications for each specific type of physiotherapy. Here are the 9 main ones:
malignant neoplasms of any location;
some mental illnesses with a tendency to agitation (psychomotor agitation, epilepsy);
severe diseases of the cardiovascular system (stage 3 hypertension, stage 2-3 heart failure);
increase in body temperature to 38-39 degrees;
cachexia (extreme exhaustion of the body, very severe weight loss...);
tendency to bleed
Also, if fluid is detected in the joint, there is active purulent inflammation in the area of the damaged joint, excessive pain - physiotherapy is contraindicated until all signs of exacerbation disappear.
Joint diseases are quite serious ailments that, if not treated promptly, can lead to disability. To prevent this from happening, you should consult a doctor in a timely manner. The specialist will conduct a full examination and diagnose the pathology at an early stage, while the cartilage tissue is not yet destroyed. At the same time, drug therapy remains the main method of treatment, and physiotherapy, in particular electrophoresis for joints, can enhance the effect of medications, reduce their dosage and eliminate some adverse reactions.
Today, this gentle method of physiotherapeutic treatment of joints is used very widely, since almost 40% of the world's population suffers from joint diseases.
Electrophoresis, or iontophoresis, is a type of electrotherapy. It is based on the action of direct current, with the help of which medications are delivered directly to the site of the lesion. This process is called drug electrophoresis.
The administration of medications to the site of inflammation occurs using two electrodes: the cathode and the anode. They act differently on cartilage tissue:
During the procedures, the drug accumulates in the upper layers of the epidermis and then continues to flow to the joint tissues for 14–20 days.
This deposition effect allows you to successfully relieve the symptoms of various joint diseases:
Local administration of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs can reduce their negative effects on the gastrointestinal tract and the entire body as a whole.
Electrophoresis is considered an effective procedure. But, like any treatment method, it has its own indications and contraindications that must be taken into account.
Ion therapy allows you to stimulate metabolism in the affected joint tissues, activates the restoration of cartilage and prevents further destruction of the joints.
The administration of medications through the skin has clear advantages over systemic therapy or intramuscular injections. These include the following positive points:
It should be noted that not all drugs can be administered in this way.
Despite the remarkable properties of ion therapy, there are a number of contraindications to this procedure: malignant tumors, fever, the presence of a pacemaker, foci of purulent and inflammatory processes, exacerbation of bronchial asthma, skin diseases and damage at the site of treatment.
When performing electrophoresis on the joints of the extremities, menstrual bleeding is not considered a clear contraindication to the procedure, but the treating doctor must be notified about critical days.
Intolerance to the drug used for the procedure may also be a contraindication. In this case, the drug should be replaced with another medicine that does not cause allergies and has a similar effect.
The main factors in choosing the number of procedures, their duration and method of ionotherapy are the type of joint disease and the medicine used. Only the attending physician can determine the treatment regimen.
If for any reason electrophoresis sessions are carried out at home, a preliminary consultation with a doctor is necessary.
Modern medicine uses several types of ion therapy. They differ in the method of administering medications and the type of electrical influence. There are four main electrophoresis techniques:
To treat joints, galvanic or bath techniques are most often used, which we will talk about in more detail.
With this method of treatment, special gauze pads are used, folded in several layers and soaked in a medicinal solution. Sometimes, instead of fabric, filter paper is used for these purposes.
Pads soaked in the medicinal preparation are placed on both sides of the joint, and their sizes must be the same. The location of the electrodes for various joint pathologies can be seen in the figure.
With electrophoresis, the therapeutic effect occurs against the background of a balanced effect of positively and negatively charged electrodes. In case of arthrosis (gonarthrosis) of the knee, the electrodes are located on the outer and inner sides of the joint. The same arrangement of spacers is provided for the treatment of the ankle joint. The anode provides pain relief and reduced swelling, the cathode relieves inflammation and improves microcirculation.
The use of electric current, which accelerates the delivery of drugs to the affected area, does not require any effort or prior preparation from the patient. At the same time, the procedure is effective and allows you to reduce the dose of medications taken.
Iontophoresis is a universal way to combat joint diseases. To obtain a therapeutic effect, the location of the joint and the depth of the muscle layer above it do not matter. That is why iontophoresis is considered an effective method of treating coxarthrosis.
Painkillers, anti-inflammatory ointments and rubbing often do not have the desired effect, and tablet forms of drugs have many contraindications. It is in such cases that electrophoresis will be the best solution for diseases of the hip joints.
To treat coxarthrosis, a pad impregnated with a medicinal substance is placed on the front of the thigh, another on the back of the joint, in the buttock area. An anode is installed at the site of pain, under which gauze soaked in novocaine or lidocaine is placed.
The shoulder joint is one of the most mobile joints. Pain and limited mobility in this area cause significant discomfort to the patient and reduce performance. When painkillers do not have any effect, electrophoresis comes to the rescue.
Hardware administration of drugs makes it possible to deliver analgesics directly to the site of inflammation, bypassing the general bloodstream. Local therapeutic effect for 12–15 minutes helps reduce swelling and pain in the joint area.
Before the session begins, the patient sits or lies down. To carry out the procedure, pads are placed in front and behind the shoulder joint. For lesions of the elbow or wrist joint, the electrodes are placed on the outer and inner surfaces of the affected area, respectively. When treating hand diseases, pads are placed on the palm and back.
The duration of procedures for joint diseases usually does not exceed 30 minutes, and the current strength is within 20 mA. The treatment course consists of 10-20 sessions.
This procedure is used as often as galvanic ion therapy. It is especially effective for treating small joints of the hands and feet, ankle or elbow joint.
To treat with electric current, a warm solution is poured into a special container with built-in electrodes and the affected limb is immersed in it. A session usually lasts at least half an hour at a current of about 30 mA.
Calcium ion therapy is considered one of the most effective procedures for treating hip dysplasia in children. For young children, iontophoresis is usually prescribed as part of complex therapy. The effect of current allows you to deliver the drug directly to the area of the affected joints, without resorting to oral administration of tablets.
To achieve a lasting result, several courses of treatment are required, including at least 10 sessions. The method of performing electrophoresis on an infant is determined by a pediatrician. The duration of the procedures depends on the age of the child and ranges from 10 to 20 minutes.
For young children, the most convenient method of therapy is bath iontophoresis. The baby is placed in a container with a heated medicinal solution, through which a very weak electric current is passed. The manipulation lasts no more than 10–15 minutes.
Calcium ion therapy procedures for congenital hip dysplasia in children are a worthy alternative to systemic medication. Electrophoresis is approved for use from the first days of a baby’s life, when other methods of drug administration may be undesirable.
It is obvious that hardware administration of calcium has a number of advantages over other therapeutic techniques. However, despite the apparent safety of the procedure, it has a number of contraindications:
If there is damage to the skin on the surface of the skin where the electrodes should be applied, it is better to refuse the galvanization procedure.
Today, electrophoresis for the treatment of joints is one of the most effective and harmless procedures. This inexpensive and effective treatment method with more than 200 years of history can quickly relieve pain and protect joints from further destruction. In addition, due to its simplicity and safety, the ion therapy device can be used at home.
Treatment of joint diseases is a long process. To ensure better delivery of medications to the problem area, the doctor may prescribe electrophoresis. This is a painless and affordable procedure that has a positive effect on the elbow, ankle, knee and shoulder joints.
Electrophoresis is prescribed for the following joint diseases:
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Electrophoresis ensures the accumulation of the drug in the upper layers of the skin, and then, over the course of 2-3 weeks, it gradually enters the joint tissues.
Using direct current, medications penetrate directly into the diseased area.
The operating principle is based on the effect of direct current directly on the affected area. During the procedure, a drug is delivered to the lesion site using the anode and cathode. This phenomenon is called medicinal electrophoresis. Effect on cartilage tissue:
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The choice of medications depends on the diagnosis and stage of the disease. It is possible to administer several medications together to ensure a better effect during electrical muscle stimulation. For example, the cathode is with novocaine, and analgin is administered through the anode. At high concentrations, drugs must be diluted. For electrophoresis of the knee joint use:
The physiotherapy room nurse applies the necessary medication to the electrode pads and selects the optimal location of the electrodes. During the action of the electric field, necessary substances penetrate the body through the skin and have a positive effect on the pathology near the injection site. The technique has a number of advantages:
Contraindications for use:
It is prohibited to combine electrophoresis with potent procedures: mud compresses, UV irradiation, inductometry. The number of sessions is determined by the doctor.
Modern drugs are quite mobile, so they can be used at home. If all recommendations are followed, metabolic processes are accelerated, cartilage tissue is actively restored and the further detrimental effect of the disease on the joint is slowed down. When treating arthritis of the finger, ankle or elbow joint, electrophoresis is indispensable. The device has a number of advantages compared to injection administration of the drug.
The disadvantage of the method is the limitation of the drugs used, as well as the impossibility of use for a pacemaker, cancer, exacerbation of asthma and skin diseases. If the integrity of the skin is damaged, the course will have to be postponed until the wounds or cuts are completely healed.
Arthrosis is a serious disease that can make a person disabled for life. If you neglect this disease, you can permanently lose a joint in your leg or arm. In such cases, there is only one solution left - prosthetics. With early arthrosis, there is still cartilage tissue in the joint, so effective treatment is possible. One of the most striking symptoms of this disease is crunching in the joints. During physical work, infection or cold, aching pain appears in the limbs. If you experience pain in your knees, this is a clear sign of arthrosis of the hip joint.
Today, arthrosis “makes itself known” not only in the elderly, but also in young people. The main thing is to recognize a terrible illness in time in order to consult a specialist doctor. He will prescribe medications, electrophoresis and other methods of therapy. After all, many people know that electrophoresis for arthrosis is one of the most effective methods of treatment. There is plasma lifting, which helps to get rid of joint diseases and spinal osteochondrosis in a short time.
All kinds of painkillers have a lot of side effects and contraindications. What cannot be said about plasma lifting, which is used to treat arthrosis. Therefore, to maintain general health and treat the disease in the early and late stages, the doctor prescribes a course of physical therapy. Dosed exposure to electric current on the body is electrophoresis. Charged particles move in a magnetic field, heading directly to the infected joint. Thus, the medicine reaches that area of the zone that is affected by arthrosis. The modern treatment method includes not only electrophoresis, but also consists of a number of other procedures:
Plasmolifting and electrophoresis are carried out in an equipped office or in a hospital under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Some methods of treating arthrosis with electrophoresis are worth considering in more detail.
Plasmolifting truly gives joints a new and healthy life. With the help of plasma lifting, it is possible to completely restore cartilage tissue and mobility of the joints of the limbs. In addition, ligaments, tendons and muscle tissue begin to actively “work”. Plasmolifting has no contraindications, so it is prescribed not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of arthrosis. Even those who suffer from spinal osteochondrosis can safely use plasma lifting - an absolutely painless method. After just a few sessions of using plasma lifting, improvements occur: the joint fluid returns to normal, joint pain disappears, and the cartilage begins to be better nourished. Plasmolifting has recently been used in the treatment of arthrosis, but has already established itself as one of the most effective methods.
Nowadays, a common method of treating arthrosis is hirudotherapy. Even in ancient times in Rus', small slippery leeches were “called upon” for help if a person had aches in his legs and arms. What, exactly, is the meaning of hirudotherapy? Leeches stick to the sore spot and thin the blood with the help of a unique substance “hirudin”. In this way, the blood is cleared of decay products, and the patient with arthrosis feels much lighter. Hirudotherapy for arthrosis is prescribed both in the early and secondary stages of the disease. The main thing is not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor about hirudotherapy for arthrosis in a physiotherapy room.
Everyone knows that not only hirudotherapy, but also simple physical exercises allow a person to get rid of arthrosis. Movement is not only life, but also the maximum of positive emotions. To treat arthrosis, doctors prescribe aqua aerobics, which is performed in a pool accompanied by music. The duration of the lesson is 45 minutes, and you can do them up to 3 times a week. During exercise, weight decreases, muscle tone increases, blood pressure normalizes and the cardiovascular system is trained. Specially designed aerobics has a beneficial effect on the entire body and fights arthrosis. After all, water is a dense liquid that makes our body move stronger.
It is better to prevent any disease than to treat it. Everyone knows about this, but, alas, they remember the famous saying only at the most critical moments. Arthrosis can appear suddenly and in an inflammatory form. By the way, electrophoresis and plasma lifting sessions cannot be used at this time. In order not to “reward” yourself with an unpleasant illness, you need to correctly observe the following preventive measures:
Arthrosis can appear from a lack of vitamins in the body. Specifically, there is a lack of vitamin D, which is the “builder” of cartilage tissue in joints. It is recommended to eat more jelly-like jellied meat, which is excellent for joint arthrosis.
Regarding contraindications to physiotherapy, a patient with arthrosis should consult with their doctor. But there are general guidelines under which electrophoresis is not recommended:
By the way, the causes of arthrosis have not yet been fully elucidated. But most often these are frequent injuries, constant walking in high heels, all kinds of bruises and sprains. If arthrosis has already declared itself, then procedures such as plasma lifting and electrophoresis are the most effective methods of treating arthrosis and other joint diseases. It is impossible to completely get rid of arthrosis, but the condition can be alleviated. The main thing is not to let this insidious disease progress and use complex therapy for treatment. You can go to a sanatorium that specializes in the treatment of arthrosis. It is necessary to regulate nutrition and increase immunity.
Otherwise, the patient will undergo knee replacement and rehabilitation after surgery. Which, by the way, most often happens to those people who did not pay due attention to their condition throughout their lives. There are no miracles; how a person takes care of himself is how he feels in old age.
Let's take a brief and accessible look at:
– prevention of this disease.
There are two types of the disease: primary and secondary arthrosis. Primary arthrosis occurs as a result of genetic predisposition or age-related changes in the body, and secondary arthrosis occurs due to heavy physical activity, excess body weight, infectious diseases, and diseases of the endocrine system.
Symptoms of arthrosis are:
– crunching in the joints, which occurs due to lime deposits on the joints;
– swelling and redness of the joints during inflammation;
– decreased joint mobility;
– pain in the joint, especially during exercise;
– decreased mobility of the diseased joint;
– joint deformation, which is most noticeable on the affected fingers and knees.
To diagnose arthrosis, a general blood test is prescribed to detect inflammation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT), ultrasound and x-ray of the joint, as well as examination of the joint fluid. In some cases, arthroscopy is prescribed (this is a research method where the joint is surgically examined from the inside).
TREATMENT of arthrosis: the priority is to eliminate inflammation, identify and treat the causes of the disease, and restore the motor function of the joint.
During the course of treatment, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are used, and chondroprotective drugs are also used to restore articular cartilage. Physiotherapeutic procedures are also prescribed, for example, electrophoresis, ultrasound and microwave therapy.
When the disease has reached an advanced stage, the only treatment that modern “doctors” can offer is surgical replacement of the affected joint with an artificial one.
To prevent arthrosis, as well as to avoid complications of the disease, it is necessary to adhere to a diet. Eat foods low in fat and carbohydrates, which not only lead to weight gain, but also lead to disruption of metabolic processes in joint tissues. If you are sick, it is recommended to eat more fruits and vegetables.
Also, for arthrosis, physical exercises are recommended to promote better blood circulation and, accordingly, nutrition of the joint. The best physical activity is swimming, during which the articular cartilage itself is not loaded, but the surrounding muscles work hard.
If you have arthrosis, it is strictly forbidden to self-medicate, as well as to work out the joint yourself or do massage. You should not exercise if you feel pain. This can injure the joint.
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Physiotherapeutic methods for treating arthrosis are powerful measures to overcome joint disease. Physiotherapy will be one of the mandatory items in the overall healing complex. Arthrosis is a difficult disease, the treatment of which must be taken on early, without delay for long, and modern methods of physiotherapy will help to cope with this task.
Of course, physiotherapy is not a panacea for arthrosis, but its methods can make taking medications more effective, while reducing their negative side effects. It has also been noted that physical therapy reduces the dose of medications. Typically, this type of treatment is combined with the use of chondroprotectors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics and other medications; physical therapy, normalization of nutrition, and traditional medicine methods are added to the complex, which in general should give the desired healing effect.
The word “physiotherapy” is derived from ancient Greek words meaning “nature” and “treatment”. Thus, the concept itself includes the use of natural methods, as well as the ability to treat diseases with the help of physical instruments, appliances, and devices.
Among the many types of physiotherapy, we will name the main methods used to combat arthrosis:
The positive influence of the magnetic field on humans was noticed by people a long time ago. For the treatment of joint diseases, in particular arthrosis, the effect of magnets has been scientifically proven and is widely used by modern medicine. The main positive effects can be summarized:
To the above it is worth adding a significant improvement in metabolic processes in the body when exposed to a magnetic field. Magnetic therapy is used in two types: local and general effects. When using magnet therapy specifically on a joint affected by arthrosis, the positive effect will be local, but intense, without affecting other human organs. With its general effect, magnetic therapy improves metabolic processes, normalizes blood pressure, and stimulates the restoration of cartilage tissue in joints.
The use of ultrasound is associated with the development of technology in the 20th century, which is reflected in the use of ultrasound for medical purposes. Research in this area has shown that the effect of high-frequency sound on human tissue has a beneficial effect on many organs and systems of the body, which, in turn, has a positive effect on joints with arthrosis.
Ultrasound treatment has a warming effect, increases metabolic processes and blood circulation. Consequently, the joint receives a full set of nutrients, stimulating restoration processes. The action of ultrasound can slow down the destruction of cartilage tissue, which is one of the most important goals of therapy.
The principles of electrophoresis were laid down by Russian scientists at the dawn of the 19th century. It is based on the movement of elements in various environments when exposed to an electromagnetic field. The medicine is applied to the electrodes of the device, then, under the influence of electricity, the drug penetrates the body through the pores of a person. The advantage over other methods is the maximum possible concentration of the drug in the sore spot without saturating the entire body with it.
A person is exposed to a harmless and almost imperceptible current. The electrophoresis treatment process is as follows. A certain pad treated with a medicine intended for injection into the problem area is applied to the sore area (for example, with gonarthrosis on the knee). An electric current is supplied through the electrodes (cathode and anode), and, as we know from school physics courses, the human body is a good conductor, then ions with a therapeutic substance penetrate the skin and then into the joint.
Electrophoresis allows you to see the results of therapy almost instantly. In this way, pain and inflammation due to arthrosis are remarkably relieved. Human skin is not damaged during electrophoresis compared to injections. The medicine can remain in the periarticular area for several weeks, and daily treatments are not required.
Since the invention of the laser in 1960, medical science has found its use as a good physiotherapy tool. Long and persistent research has found a balance in the required volume and strength of laser radiation. Lasers have become widely used in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system when other methods of physiotherapy cannot be used for various reasons.
Laser therapy has an analgesic effect, relieves inflammation, and has a stimulating effect on the regeneration of hyaline cartilage.
Based on the individuality of the body and the characteristics of arthrosis, some types of physiotherapy cannot be used. Among the general contraindications, we name the following restrictions: