Hand massage for arthritis of the hands

Massage for arthritis (rheumatoid) hands and knees

Arthritis is considered a very complex and common disease that affects the joints. A universal way to combat it is massage for arthritis, which is necessary so that the patient can restore his health and prevent the development of complications of the disease.

Arthritis can cause severe pain, hinder movement, and reduce mobility of the knee, elbow, wrist, and other joints. The main symptom of the disease is impaired motor function, which can often lead to disability.

Treatment depends on the characteristics and severity of the disease. If the necessary measures are not taken in time, the patient may develop all sorts of complications.

What consequences can arthritis lead to:

Damaged joints may partially lose mobility. This may be due to damage to articular cartilage, prussic membranes, muscle fibers and ligaments.

Joints may completely lose mobility.

When fibrous tissue grows, the patient is able to perform rocking movements, but at the same time feels severe pain.

When bone connective tissue grows, the patient does not feel pain, but is completely unable to move the joints.

Due to deformation of the cartilage, subluxation can form, which often leads to hypermobility of the joints.

When can you have a massage?

Massage is allowed only when remission has occurred. During this period, the patient's pain decreases, redness and swelling disappear, and his general condition improves.

In order for the treatment to be as effective as possible, a course of therapeutic massage must be started as early as possible. The number of healing procedures depends on the type of arthritis and how severely damaged the joints are.

If the disease is only at the initial stage, five massage sessions will be enough. In cases of severe arthritis, a minimum of fifteen procedures will be required.

In general, therapeutic massage requires more than 20 minutes to thoroughly work out the damaged joints.

Features of massage procedures

For arthritis, massage has great health benefits for the patient:

Prevents muscle atrophy, ensures the passage of oxygen to muscle fibers.

Relieves severe pain.

Helps get rid of accumulated fluid in the cavity of diseased joints, does not allow salts to be deposited and stagnation to form.

The patient's blood circulation improves, blood circulation is restored and metabolism in the areas being massaged is accelerated.

After the massage, the patient can move more freely.

As you know, therapeutic massage has a warming effect, so it is recommended to carry it out at low air temperatures. Treatment procedures are especially useful when combined with physiotherapy and exercise therapy; by the way, physiotherapy procedures for arthrosis of the knee joint show excellent results.

Depending on the degree of the disease, acupressure or segmental therapeutic massage is used. Doctors also divide it into general and private. A general massage treats all parts of the body and pays special attention to areas affected by arthritis.

The session duration is usually about 60 minutes. The number of sessions depends on the severity of the disease, and this type of massage can be done every day or every other day.

During a private massage, only certain parts of the body are massaged; a massage is performed on the arms, back, knee joint, and so on.

Each session takes no more than half an hour. A private massage involves a more detailed study of problem areas and a greater number of movements of the massage therapist’s hands.

Contraindications for massage

Like any other procedure, therapeutic massage may be contraindicated in some cases.

Massage should not be done in the following cases:

In acute inflammatory process;

With elevated body temperature or fever;

With a tendency to hemorrhage;

In general poor condition;

With nervous or physical fatigue;

If the patient feels nausea or vomiting;

If there are rashes, ulcers or pustules on the skin surface.

After such symptoms disappear and the patient feels well, therapeutic massage can be resumed. It is completely prohibited to give massage to people with sexually transmitted diseases, myocardial infarction, mental disorders, and insufficient kidney and liver function.

Private massage is contraindicated in the presence of a hernia, urolithiasis, or menstruation.

Also, this type of massage should not be performed on women for two months after an abortion or childbirth. Pregnant women are prohibited from massaging their hips, lower back and abdomen.

Improved mobility in arthritis

Massage using heat on parts of the body helps restore the patient’s mobility, improve the functioning of the knee, elbow and other joints.

The mobility of the shoulder joint is restored by stroking, squeezing, and kneading. The massage therapist performs movements using the fingertips and ribs of the palm. After kneading, use the shaking technique, after which squeezing and stroking are repeated. Movements are performed from elbow to shoulder. The extensor muscles of the shoulder are massaged in the same way.

If the mobility of the elbow joints is low, in addition to the basic listed techniques, kneading movements with the pads and phalanges of the fingers and the ribs of the palm are added. Starting from the elbow joints, the massage therapist works the shoulder muscles. Next, the forearm and muscles located above the elbow joint are massaged.

The duration of the procedure depends on the condition and size of the joints. So, it takes an average of 7 minutes to massage the hand, and 10-15 minutes to work the knee joint.

Before starting a massage course, you must consult a doctor to undergo an examination to find out what form and degree of arthritis the patient has. It is important to examine each joint in detail to identify possible ankylosis and contractures.

The first three sessions help to relax the muscles as much as possible by rubbing and stroking the skin, while the joints are not directly affected.

Light impact on the joints is allowed in the third session, after which special therapeutic methods can be used. All the patient’s joints are gradually worked on.

The technique of acupressure involves influencing certain points on the patient’s body using the hands or fingers. This procedure normalizes the nervous system, improves blood flow and the functioning of the endocrine glands, and relieves severe pain and muscle tension.

When performing acupressure, the massage therapist selects a specific point on the body to influence. During the procedure, the patient feels warmth, bloating, slight pain and numbness in the area being treated. Usually at this moment the patient's skin becomes covered with goose bumps.

Depending on the technique of the procedure, massage can excite or soothe. If there is increased muscle tone due to arthritis, a relaxing effect is performed. If the patient experiences muscle atrophy or paresis, which often causes disease, a tonic massage technique is used.

Carrying out self-massage

If it is not possible to use the services of a professional massage therapist, you can do the massage yourself. You can perform it in any comfortable position, sitting or lying down. Massage procedures are especially effective and useful if they are done in a bathhouse; the main thing is to observe the measure and take into account contraindications, if any. Self-massage should be combined with physiotherapy to make the treatment go faster.

Meanwhile, performing massage yourself has certain disadvantages:

With self-massage, the muscles may not always completely relax.

Some parts of the body may be inaccessible or difficult to reach.

Self-massage requires a lot of strength and energy, so it should not be performed by people with heart, kidney or liver diseases.

If self-massage is performed incorrectly, it can lead to undesirable consequences for the patient.

For this reason, it is important to know the basic rules for self-massage. Such a massage is considered correctly performed if the patient does not experience pain, the skin is not injured and there are no bruises on the skin surface.

Massaging movements should be performed rhythmically, actively, but not abruptly. If everything is done correctly, the patient feels warmth in the area of ​​treatment.

When massaging the knee joint, you need to start the massage procedure from the thigh, and then gradually move to the problem area. When working on the hands, self-massage can take no more than 5 minutes, massage of the knee joint is performed for 25 minutes.

For self-massage to be effective, you need to take a comfortable position, bending the joints of your legs and arms at a slight angle. During the procedure, it is important to take into account the direction of lymph flow and perform movements towards the closest lymph nodes, while the nodes themselves are not massaged.

Self-massage should not be performed if the patient is bleeding, there are pustules, rashes or wounds on the skin surface. Also, the procedure is not performed during an exacerbation of the disease.

For the best effect, massage of the knee, shoulder or elbow joint is recommended using special massage ointments, gels or creams.

Improvement in rheumatoid arthritis

Massage for rheumatoid arthritis can be done both generally and on specific areas of the body. During a private massage, areas of the knee or other joint are worked out. In this case, the techniques of stroking, kneading, rubbing, sliding, twisting and stretching are used.

The duration of the general health course is at least fifteen sessions of 30 minutes each. When massaging your hands, use a special roller to keep your fingers bent. When massaging the hand, each tendon is smoothed from the back of the hands using the pads of the thumbs in ten up and down movements.

After this, the massage therapist rubs the skin deeply using the shading method. When massaging the interosseous muscles of the hands, the patient's fingers spread apart. During the palm massage, the skin is rubbed and stroked. One session includes a massage of both hands.

If the feet are injured, deep stroking is used from the toes to the ankle, gradually rising to the lower part of the calf. The general condition of the feet improves when performing a massage of the calf muscles. The feet are massaged using the thumbs and palms.

Massage of the knee joint for rheumatoid arthritis is performed with the palms and thumbs. Massaging movements begin from the bottom of the knee joint, gradually moving towards the thigh. The massage therapist uses stroking, followed by spiral rubbing. The procedure must be carried out carefully so as not to affect the numerous nerve endings in the knee area.

The back massage is first performed on the left side, and then on the right. During the procedure, rake-like stroking, rubbing, rolling, stretching, kneading and sliding are used.

Diet, gymnastics and massage for arthritis of the fingers

If the joints of the fingers are affected by arthritis, drug treatment alone may not be enough. In almost every case, experts recommend complex therapy and combining medications with treatment with folk remedies. Also highly effective are: exercise therapy, massage, gymnastics, proper diet and compresses.

Gymnastics for arthritis of the fingers is a sure way to restore the flexibility of the fingers and expand their range of motion. In the process of performing special movements, blood circulation in the joints improves, and this helps restore the elasticity and firmness of the skin. In addition, gymnastic procedures speed up the elimination of toxins, and the body recovers faster.

Quite often, doctors offer therapeutic massage; the only disadvantage of such an effect on sore joints is that it can only be performed during the period when the symptoms of arthritis are weakening. Remission of the disease has the following signs:

swelling in the hands is almost invisible or completely absent;

the skin is not hyperemic;

pain syndrome is minimal.

Massage is a method of influencing affected joints that will pay off only if it was started in a timely manner. Taking into account the degree and complexity of arthritis of the fingers, as well as the duration of its course, the attending physician will determine the required number of sessions.

The specialist begins the massage with healthy or least affected joints. Light kneading movements work out each part of the hand. If the patient does not feel severe pain, then the massage therapist may decide to influence the affected joints already in the first session.

It is recommended to perform therapeutic massage every day, and the duration of the session should not exceed 15 minutes. The specialist carefully considers each of his movements so that physical impact on the affected joints does not cause pain to the patient.

The preparatory stage of the massage is to normalize blood circulation and warm up the hand from fingers to elbow. The patient is positioned sitting at a table facing the massage therapist. The arm is placed on the table, bent at the elbow joint, and a soft cushion is placed under the hand. The massage begins with light stroking of the entire affected area, while first working on the inner side, and then the outer.

After warming up, perform a finger massage. To do this, the patient places his palm on a previously prepared soft roller, and the doctor, using only his three fingers, warms up each of the patient’s fingers with stroking movements, while the joints remain unused. To achieve the best effect, it is advisable to do 2 to 3 approaches for each finger.

Gymnastic exercises

A massage session can be supplemented with effective exercises at home. This will not only increase the effectiveness of the previous intervention, but will also allow the affected joints to return to the ability to move in the required range.

The first exercise will prepare sore joints for subsequent loads. You need to start by clenching your hand into a fist (thumb on top of the rest), hold the hand in a clenched state for up to 60 seconds (if there is a feeling of pain, then you can relax earlier), then open your palm and spread your fingers as far apart as possible. From 3 to 5 repetitions on each hand.

The second exercise will help relieve pain. You need to place your hand on a hard surface, palm down, and then try to press your palm as tightly as possible to the surface, avoiding strong pressure on the joints and painful sensations. As soon as the first signs of pain are felt, the hand can be relaxed. Do 4 repetitions on each arm.

The next exercise is performed in this way: you need to turn your palm towards you and squeeze your fingers so that each of them touches the main phalanx. Hold in this position for up to 1 minute and repeat at least 4 times for each hand.

To perform the exercise, you need to take something soft and round, for example, a small ball or ball. You should hold the object in your palm as tightly as possible, but without causing pain, hold for 10–15 seconds, then release the pressure. 10–15 repetitions are recommended, no more than 3 times a week. Do not perform if you have a thumb joint injury.

An exercise that strengthens muscles. The muscle connection from the thumb to all the rest is involved. It is necessary to alternately pinch a soft object (ball, ball) with your thumb and other fingers. At the moment of their contact, linger in this state for up to 1 minute. It is recommended no more than 15 and no less than 10 repetitions on each arm, no more than 3 times a week. It is prohibited to perform with injuries to the thumb joint.

An exercise that develops finger flexibility: you need to place your hand, palm down, on a hard surface and press it as tightly as possible. After this, you need to slowly raise and lower your fingers one by one, and then all together. 10 repetitions per arm are recommended.

Diet and nutrition for arthritis of the fingers

Proper nutrition is the key to the health of the whole body. The diet for arthritis should be balanced and in no case hungry. The daily diet must be composed in such a way that it contains not only vitamins, but also useful microelements that will help the joints replenish the missing substances and return to normal.

Doctors recommend implementing daily nutrition as follows:

All food that was planned to be consumed during the day should be divided into several meals (3, or preferably 4). Portions should be small and contain both protein products and fats and carbohydrates. This method of nutrition will prevent an increase in the level of purine acids and compounds in the body;

It is strictly forbidden to eat too much or too little food;

if the patient is prone to obesity, then it is necessary to control body weight and keep it normal. If necessary, you should reduce weight, however, this measure is practiced only under the strict supervision of the attending physician;

You should drink the correct amount of clean, non-carbonated water (up to 2 liters per day); during an exacerbation, you should drink at least 3 liters of liquid per day.

The diet for arthritis of the fingers should be gentle and aimed at excluding foods such as:

• green onions, spinach, sorrel;
• sweets, cocoa, chocolate;
• baked goods, white bread, yeast products;
• salt;
• alcohol and tobacco.

By eliminating the products described above, the patient can prolong the time of the remission stage, and in some cases stop its progression.

Massage and folk remedies for the treatment of arthritis of the fingers

Arthritis of the fingers is an inflammatory process in the joints. At the same time, the composition of the liquid changes and its quantity increases. This problem occurs much more often than arthrosis and can lead to loss of mobility and disability. Without treatment, arthritis moves from the fingers to the joints of the hands. How to identify the disease in time? How is arthritis of the fingers treated?

Today there are more than 150 types of joint inflammation. Arthritis of the fingers is classified depending on the cause of its occurrence. Highlight:

Each type of hand arthritis manifests itself differently, and accordingly, the treatment is different.

Treatment of infectious arthritis of the fingers is aimed at eliminating pain and infection.

Metabolic arthritis of the finger joints occurs when there are problems with blood circulation, when large amounts of purine accumulate in the blood. Because of this, metabolism is disrupted and arthritis develops; lumps form on the phalanges of the thumbs of both hands.

Arthritis changes the shape of joints

The rheumatoid form appears in older people. The main reason is age and injury.

Arthritis of the fingers can be acute or chronic. Let's look at how each type manifests itself.

Signs of arthritis in the fingers may vary depending on the form of the disease. In acute cases, all symptoms appear quickly, these include:

• high body temperature;
• severe pain;
• swelling of the affected area.

The strength of the symptoms of the chronic form increases gradually over 1-2 years. Stiffness in movement and slightly elevated body temperature appear.

Note. In each person, depending on the severity of the disease and age, arthritis can manifest itself differently, but the disease always begins in the same way.

The disease is always accompanied by pain

Signs of arthritis of the fingers appear according to the following pattern:

• Increased body temperature for no apparent reason.
• Chills and dizziness.
• Aches and pain in the joints from aching to acute (depending on the strength of the inflammatory process).
• The appearance of the hand changes. Swelling and redness appear.
• There is a feeling of stiffness in movements.

Without treatment, the symptoms of finger arthritis will only get worse every day.

Features of the disease and complications

More often, arthritis begins with damage to the thumb. Without treatment, the disease progresses rapidly.

Important. Arthritis can affect the joint of one finger or all of them at once. In the rheumatoid form of the disease, inflammation of all joints often occurs.

If treatment is not started at the first symptoms of finger arthritis, the following complications will appear:

• Inflammation of the joint capsule.
• Cartilage destruction.
• Joint deformation.
• Loss of mobility and curling of fingers.

The patient becomes disabled.

Severe arthritis

In children and young people, the disease develops much more rapidly and has more severe symptoms than in older people.

Rheumatoid arthritis only bothers older people in the morning.

Treatment of arthritis of the fingers should begin with diagnosis. It includes:

• Identification of patient complaints and visual examination.
• An examination that includes a general and biochemical blood test, a general urine test.
• X-ray examination.
• Additional examination of internal organs (if necessary).

It is x-rays that make it possible to determine the stage and characteristics of the course of the disease. The x-ray shows the extent of damage to the joint.

X-ray is the best diagnostic method

During diagnosis, the type of disease is determined. Gout, rheumatoid arthritis and cervical osteochondrosis are very similar in their manifestations.

Before treating finger arthritis, you need to find out its cause. Based on the etiology of the origin of the disease, treatment is prescribed.

Important. Efficiency depends on the severity of the problem. In the final stages, treatment for arthritis of the fingers is rarely effective.

How is arthritis of the finger joints treated? Initially, you need to eliminate inflammation and pain. Analgesics are used for this.

Treatment should begin at the first symptoms

How to treat infectious arthritis on the fingers? Doctors prescribe antibiotics and corticosteroids. To strengthen the body, the patient is prescribed multivitamin complexes containing vitamin B1.

Ointment for arthritis of the fingers is used to relieve pain. You can apply Fastum Gel or butadiene ointment to the affected area.

Drug treatment and physiotherapy

The basis of drug therapy is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Drugs that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects include:

When exudate forms, hormonal agents are prescribed. They are inserted into the joint cavity after fluid is removed.

For an infectious inflammatory process, antibiotics are prescribed, for example, Ceftriaxone or Bigaflon. All anti-inflammatory drugs are injected into the joint cavity.

To restore cartilage tissue, chondroprotectors are needed. Chondroitin tablets and Chondroxide ointment will help improve metabolic processes.

Drug treatment is mandatory for arthritis

Treatment must be comprehensive. Together with medications and ointments, physiotherapy is needed, namely:

Hand massage helps with arthritis of the hands. In the chronic form, when the disease is in remission, the patient is offered hydrotherapy and mud therapy.

Treatment with folk remedies

Treatment of arthritis in the fingers can be carried out using folk remedies. Ointments and compresses based on mustard, blue clay or mumiyo are suitable. Herbs that have an anti-inflammatory effect, such as chamomile, have a good effect.

Traditional medicine helps get rid of inflammation at an early stage

Let's consider effective recipes for treatment:

• A decoction of bay leaves for oral use. Pour 300 ml of boiling water over the leaf packaging and leave for three hours. Drink the entire decoction before bed.
• Calamus root tincture. Pour 100 g of root into 500 ml of vodka. Leave for 10 days. Drink 1 tsp. before meals.
• Compresses made from sweet clover herb, chamomile, hops and black elderberry. Take water and all ingredients in a 1:1 ratio. Bring to a boil, place in linen bags and apply to joints for 20 minutes.
• At home you can make an ointment from the yolk of an egg, 1 tsp. turpentine and apple cider vinegar. Rub into the sore spot.

The course of treatment for arthritis can last up to a month, depending on the severity of the disease. If medications and traditional methods do not produce results, then joint replacement surgery is needed.

Co-author of the material: Dmitry Ulyanov is an orthopedist-rheumatologist with 22 years of experience, a doctor of the first category. Engaged in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all diseases of the joints and connective tissue. He has a diploma in Rheumatology and studied at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia.

Therapeutic massage for arthritis: how to do it correctly, features, contraindications

Massage for arthritis is a necessary means of patient rehabilitation. It is thanks to him that complications that constantly appear with this disease can be avoided.

How can arthritis result?

1. Partial loss of mobility of damaged joints (contracture). The cause of limited mobility may be changes that occur as a result of damage to the synovial membranes, articular cartilage, ligaments and muscles that fix diarthrosis.
2. Absolute immobility of joints (ankylosis).
3. Ankylosis can be bony or fibrous. Fibrous ankylosis is the result of proliferation (overgrowth) of fibrous tissue. With it, the joint can partially perform rocking movements, but the patient experiences pain.
4. With bone ankylosis, bone connective tissue undergoes overgrowth. There is absolutely no pain with it. But the joint is completely immobilized as a result of the fusion of diarthrosis surfaces.
5. Hypermobility of the joint, which developed as a result of its subluxation. Subluxation occurs as a result of deformation of the cartilage.

When can you go to a massage therapist?

Massage can only be done during remission. This period is characterized by:

6. weakening of painful sensations;
7. disappearance of redness and swelling;
8. improving the patient's condition.

A course of therapeutic massage for arthritis should be started as early as possible: this will make the treatment more effective and achieve good results.

The number of treatments depends on the type of arthritis, the degree of damage to the joint and the duration of the disease.

When treating the initial stages of arthritis, 5 sessions are sufficient; rehabilitation of a patient with a severe chronic form (accompanied by joint deformation) requires at least 15 sessions.

Therapeutic massage takes longer than relaxing massage, since it takes at least 20 minutes to work on a sore joint.

Knee massage for arthritis

What are the benefits of massage?

Massage for arthritis:

1. Prevents muscle atrophy, facilitates oxygen access to muscle fibers.
2. Relieves pain syndrome.
3. Stimulates the removal of biological fluids (effusion) accumulated in the cavity of the inflamed joint. Fights stagnation and salt deposits.
4. Improves blood circulation, restores blood circulation, accelerates metabolism in massaged areas of the body.
5. Helps restore (improve) impaired mobility and prevent the formation of contracture of the diseased joint (this is especially true for elbow and knee diarthrosis, the contracture of which causes a lot of inconvenience to patients).

Joint massage for arthritis, which has a warming effect, is most useful in a room with low air temperature.

Therapeutic massage, used to prevent and treat arthritis, is most effective in combination with physiotherapy and exercise therapy.

Treatment of arthritis involves the inclusion of different types of massage, in particular:

6. segmental;
7. spot.

Therapeutic physical culture promotes speedy recovery from arthritis

Depending on the area of ​​the massaged surface, massage is divided into private and general.

A general massage involves working all parts of the body with special emphasis on areas affected by arthritis. The duration of this procedure is at least 60 minutes. The frequency of visits to the massage room depends on the patient’s condition, as well as the type and degree of arthritis. General massage for arthritis can be done daily, every other day and according to an individual program.

A private massage involves massaging small parts of the body: hands, arms, individual joints, legs, back, etc. The duration of each procedure is from several minutes to half an hour. The technique for performing a private massage is the same as for a general one, but each problem area is treated more thoroughly, using a greater number of massage movements.

When should you not have a massage?

Therapeutic massage has the following contraindications:

8. Stage of acute inflammatory process.
9. Increased body temperature, feverish state.
10. Tendency to hemorrhage.
11. General poor health.
12. Severe fatigue (mental and nervous).
13. Pain when palpating, nausea and vomiting with concomitant illness.
14. Skin diseases accompanied by rashes, ulcers, pustules, etc.

The contraindications listed above can be considered inconsistent. After the alarming symptoms observed with a particular disease have passed and the patient feels better, massage can be performed.

If there is a hernia in the joint, massage is contraindicated

Massage is contraindicated in patients:

15. with sexually transmitted diseases;
16. with myocardial infarction;
17. with mental disorders;
18. with insufficient liver and kidney function.

Contraindications for private massage are as follows:

19. the presence of a hernia;
20. urolithiasis disease;
21. monthly bleeding.

You cannot have a private massage for two months after childbirth or abortion. It should not be done on the hips, lumbar region and stomach during pregnancy.

Massage is especially indispensable as a preventive procedure for arthrosis, as it helps restore blood circulation in the affected area of ​​the body.

The purpose of the work of a massage therapist for arthrosis:

22. relieving pain and joint stiffness;
23. restoration of blood and lymph flow to damaged areas;
24. stopping the development of poor mobility of the affected joint;
25. prevention of muscle atrophy.

Massage stimulates the return of the previous mobility of the body

Manipulations to improve the mobility of diarthrosis

Massage for arthritis, aimed at eliminating developed stiffness of the joint, carried out in combination with heat and therapeutic exercises, can restore it to its previous mobility.

Insufficient mobility of the shoulder joint is eliminated using stroking, squeezing, kneading techniques, performed with the edge of the palm and fingertips. After completing the kneading technique, be sure to shake it, and then return to squeezing and stroking.

The techniques are performed by moving in the direction from the elbow diarthrosis to the shoulder. Massaging the shoulder extensor muscles is carried out using the above methods.

To eliminate poor mobility of the elbow joint, use the above actions, adding several types of kneading to them. It is carried out:

9. pads of several fingers;
10. phalanges of fingers;
11. edge of the palm.

The massage of the elbow joint begins with working out the muscles of the shoulder, after which it moves to the forearm, and then to the muscles located above the elbow joint. The duration of treatment of the joint depends both on its own condition and on the condition of the tissues and muscles surrounding it. The size of the joint also matters. If 7 minutes are enough to work the hand, then massaging the shoulder or knee joint takes from 10 minutes to a quarter of an hour.

Acupressure on the shoulder joint

Acupressure technique

Acupressure is based on physiological processes. The impact on certain points of the body is carried out with the hand or finger.

12. promotes stimulation of the autonomic nervous system;
13. restores blood flow;
14. improves the functioning of the endocrine glands;
15. dulls pain;
16. relieves muscle tension.

In order to perform acupressure, the specialist searches for certain points on the patient’s body, performing sliding movements with the pad of the most sensitive finger.

Acupressure, acting on biologically active points, causes the patient to feel:

17. heat;
18. distension;
19. wicking;
20. weak pain impulses at the site of impact.

Impact on acupuncture points provokes the appearance of goose bumps in those areas where acupressure was performed.

Goose bumps appear as a result of the body’s reaction to acupressure

There are special schematic drawings that help to perform acupressure, since they contain special lines, meridians and channels indicating the approximate location of a particular point.

Acupressure is carried out based on certain anatomical features; they help you accurately find:

21. points in the subgluteal folds;
22. points in the shoulder folds;
23. points in the elbow folds;
24. points in the wrist folds;
25. points on the fingertips;
26. points on the tip of the nose;
27. dots in depressions;
28. points on the tubercles;
29. points at the muscle support points.

The technique of the procedure can be different, depending on this, the effect on the points can have an exciting or calming effect.

If the patient has increased muscle tone associated with contracture, pain in the joints and muscles caused by arthritis, the purpose of the treatment is to relax them. In such a situation, a calming (sedative) method is used.

If muscle tone is reduced, paresis or atrophy of muscle groups occurs, which occurs with arthritis, a tonic method is used.

A toning massage is done to relax the muscles

Massage for arthritis, if you do not have access to the services of a professional specialist, can be done independently.

Features and advantages of the method:

30. Self-massage can be done in any position: sitting in a chair or at a table, lying on the floor or on a bed.
31. Self-massage can be performed in a bathhouse. It is very effective and useful. It is only necessary to observe moderation and the correct dosage.
32. Self-massage can be combined with physiotherapy and performed at any time convenient for the patient.
33. Self-massage does not allow you to fully relax your muscles.
34. Inaccessibility of certain parts of the body (for example, the shoulder).
35. Self-massage for arthritis requires a lot of energy, so it has a large number of contraindications for heart disease and insufficiency of liver and kidney function.
36. Self-massage performed in violation of the rules can have negative consequences.

Self-massage is a good option if you can’t see a specialist.

37. Properly done self-massage should not cause pain, injure the skin or leave marks on it in the form of bruises. Movements should be active, not abrupt and rhythmic. If done correctly, the massaged area should feel warm.
38. For problems with large diarthrosis (especially for joints on the legs), self-massage should begin from areas located above the lesion (massaging the knee joint should begin from the thigh). After treating the adjacent tissues, you can perform self-massage on the problematic part of the body.
39. Self-massage for arthritis can be done from 3 (working the hand) to 25 (massaging a large joint on the legs) minutes.
40. When performing self-massage correctly, you need to take a comfortable position (bending the joints of your arms and legs at the desired angle).
41. Self-massage is carried out taking into account the direction of lymph flow: massaging movements should be directed to the closest lymph nodes (the lymph nodes themselves cannot be massaged).
42. Self-massage is not performed during bleeding, during an acute illness, or in areas where there are pustules and skin damage.
43. Self-massage for arthritis of large diarthrosis on the arms and legs (elbow, shoulder, knee) can be done using medicinal products: creams and gels.

Massage for rheumatoid arthritis is prescribed during the period of weakening of the disease, after the pain disappears.

It can be either general or segmental (individual joints of the arms and legs are massaged, and the back muscles are worked out).

Basic movements of the massage therapist:

44. kneading technique;
45. stroking technique;
46. rubbing technique;
47. shifting technique;
48. torsion technique;
49. stretching technique.

A course of therapeutic massage for rheumatoid arthritis includes 12-15 sessions lasting 20-30 minutes.

To massage the joints of the hands, it is best to use a soft roller (as a result of this, the fingers on the hand take a semi-bent position).

Hand massage consists of smoothing each tendon on the back of the affected hand with the protrusion and pad of the thumb (8-10 manipulations up and down).

Next comes the technique of deep rubbing with shading. Massaging the interosseous muscles of the hand, the massage therapist spreads the patient’s fingers to the sides. The palmar side of the hand is massaged with rubbing and ironing movements.

Hand massage

In one session it is necessary to massage the hands of both hands.

For rheumatoid damage to the feet, the massage therapist uses deep stroking techniques directed from the toes to the ankle and to the lower third of the leg. A properly massaged biceps (calf) muscle has a good effect on the condition of the feet. Massaging your feet and legs can be done with your thumbs and palms.

Massaging the knee joint affected by rheumatoid arthritis is carried out with the palm of the hand and the thumbs of both hands.

They begin to massage the knee joint, placing the thumbs just below the kneecap, and then move them towards the thigh, using a stroking technique, and then a (spiral) rubbing technique. Massaging the knee should be gentle, because the popliteal fossa contains many nerve endings.

The features of a back massage are as follows: first, the effect is applied to its left half, then to the right. The techniques used are rake-like stroking, rubbing, rolling soft tissues of the back, stretching, kneading, and shifting.

Gymnastics for arthritis

Exercises for knee diarthrosis should be aimed at stretching the muscles in the legs and overcoming stiffness of the knees.

You need to do the exercises slowly, gradually increasing the load. Properly selected exercises should not cause pain in the joints of the legs.

Gymnastics for arthritis

50. We lie on our backs, stretch our spine, pushing our arms up and our legs down. As you exhale, pull your toes toward you, pushing your heels forward. We stretch down with each heel (in turn) for 10 seconds. At the end of the exercise, we perform circular rotations with the feet.
51. We sit on a chair, straighten our back, relax our knees and swing each leg in turn for 3 minutes (with an amplitude of up to 30 cm). To complete the exercise, straighten one leg parallel to the floor line and hold it for 3 seconds. Repeat 10 times for both legs.
52. Lie on your back, stretch your arms along your body. Raise and straighten one leg. At the moment of inhalation, pull the toe up, at the moment of exhalation, pull the heel (do 5 repetitions). Having bent one leg at the knee joint, use it to “turn” the pedal on the bicycle (the other leg should lie on the floor). We do 10 rotations with each leg, and then 20 rotations alternating both legs.
53. We sit on the floor and clasp our feet with our hands. Keeping your back and legs straight, direct your chest towards your knees. We roll over onto our stomachs. Bending the leg at the knee joint, we try to touch the gluteal muscle with the heel (without lifting the thigh from the floor).

For arthritis of the knee diarthrosis, squatting exercises are strictly prohibited. You can do exercises while in the water: this will reduce the stress on the joints of your legs damaged by arthritis.

Exercises to develop shoulder diarthrosis include movements of the arms (with their abduction to the sides, behind the back and up).

You can develop your hands using rubber balls and soft expanders. Exercises for the joints of the hand can be replaced by modeling from plasticine.

Hands that are at rest are best placed on their edges. You can put them on a special rubber ball. This technique is aimed at preventing dislocations and subluxations of the hands.

Hands that are at rest are best placed on their edges. You can put them on a special rubber ball. This simple technique is aimed at preventing dislocations and subluxations of the hands.

There are special fixators - orthoses that fix the hands and feet on the legs in the correct position during sleep.

Hand massage for arthrosis

Arthrosis is a chronic inflammatory process that affects the joints of the legs and arms. Arthrosis entails dystrophic-degenerative changes in the morphological structure of the joints.

Treatment of pathology is carried out both in a conservative traditional way and at home. An integral element of therapy for the treatment of arthrosis is massage. Its main functions are:

Depending on which limb is affected by arthrosis, the massage techniques used to treat it are also specified.

Massage for arthrosis of the knee joint begins with a gentle massage of the corresponding parts of the spine, after which the specialist kneads the thigh muscles. Then he applies massage techniques such as (video):

54. light stroking;
55. more intense rubbing with the edge of the palm;
56. circular kneading first with your fingers, then with both hands (longitudinal and transverse).

These techniques serve several purposes:

57. improving blood flow to the knee joint area;
58. intensification of tissue metabolism in the area affected by arthrosis.

Next stage of massage:

the specialist begins to massage the knee joint itself directly, using the technique of continuous stroking (grasping and planar);

the massage is carried out by rubbing, performed first in a descending direction, then in an ascending direction, starting from the area of ​​the knee joint;

in painful areas, the specialist should rub using the fingertips, the base of the palm, and also apply stroking.

A procedure performed in fairly warm water (temperature about 36-38 degrees) is good for massaging the knee joint.

In order to properly massage the hip joint, you should carry out the following sequence of actions (video):

first, light, non-intensive stroking is carried out in the lumbar area, after which the massage therapist moves to the buttocks, then he should grab a small part of the femoral muscle;

then, using the palmar rib, you should squeeze, without resorting to pressure and strong pressure on the hip joint area;

Now you should go directly to massaging the muscles of the hip joint itself - the procedure is carried out using the palmar bases, circular movements are carried out with the fingers.

In a situation where the patient does not suffer from unpleasant painful symptoms characteristic of arthrosis of the hip joint, it would be advisable to use circular and intense intermittent rotations.

Massage for arthrosis of the hip joint should be carried out approximately once a day, and each technique should be repeated from five to seven times in three approaches.

For arthrosis of the ankle joint, the sequence of massage actions is as follows:

intensive massaging and kneading of the toes;

next – massage of the entire foot;

rubbing and continuous stroking of the foot and lower leg.

After pre-warming, you need to move on to massaging the ankle joint itself. For this purpose it is necessary to use the following techniques:

concentric rubbing;

stroking the ankle joint area - grasping, pincer-like.

The ankle joint begins to be massaged from its posterior segment, then carefully moves along the Achilles tendon. Massage for arthrosis of the ankle joint always ends with kneading the calf area.

Massage of the joints of the hand and fingers is carried out when the patient is in a “sitting” position. In this case, it is necessary to lower the forearm onto the table, and fix the hand and fingers. The arm is bent and relaxed. Massage techniques used by a specialist for fingers and hands:

intensive rubbing;

light circular stroking;

various exercises – active and passive (extension, abduction, abduction of arms, their circular movements).

You should start massaging your hands from the back of your hands, then gradually move on to massaging your palms. Movements are carried out only in the direction of the lymph flow. Rubbing the fingers is used in several ways:

In addition, they use:

concentric stroking;

kneading using weights;

gentle pressing of tissue from the bone area (video).

If trophism in the tissues has been disrupted, the so-called segmental massage is indicated - when a specialist actively influences the paravertebral zones of certain spinal elements.

When massaging the shoulder joint, it is necessary to actively work directly on the shoulder area. This is due to the fact that arthrosis severely affects the hyaline cartilage, the clavicular part of the shoulder and the neck itself (video).

For arthrosis of the shoulder joint, massage procedures should be carried out for a long time, since this disease is not only chronic, but also tends to progress quickly. Massage of the shoulder joint is designed to slow down the overall course of the disease, gradually removing the patient from the possibility of getting deforming arthrosis of the shoulder joint.

Massage of the shoulder joint area begins with intensively kneading the heads of the humerus bones and the joint itself (video).

Next, the muscles of the collarbone, neck, and shoulder blades are warmed up. Such techniques help slow down the process of accumulation of salt deposits in the joint, as well as normalize local blood circulation, intensify the nutrition of nerve and cartilage fibers, and minimize inflammation of the shoulder joint.

The foot massage begins with the patient having to take either a sitting position or lie on his back. The leg is extended parallel to the table. The roller should be placed under the Achilles tendon so that the heel is “in weight” and the feet themselves are easily accessible to the massage therapist for manipulation.

The foot massage technique is as follows:

you should start with intense concentric stroking (four to six repetitions);

then you should perform such techniques as straight-line forceps and concentric rubbing of the toes (no more than 6 times);

straight intense kneading with weights (3 repetitions);

The base of the palm and the pads of the thumbs are used to stroke the feet in a straight line.

Precautionary measures

When performing a massage of the knee, ankle, hip joints, as well as hands and feet, you should adhere to certain rules so as not to harm the patient’s health:

if an ankle massage is performed, it is necessary to perform stretching movements;

in the periarticular area, it is forbidden to apply too much effort during massaging;

massage for arthrosis of the ankle, knee, hip joints, as well as feet and hands is prohibited; if there are any foci of infection, areas with birthmarks should be avoided, and also do not massage areas in which there are seals, the origin of which is unknown;

during massage, it is necessary to avoid areas of bruises, injuries to joints and bones;

in a situation where arthrosis is accompanied by varicose veins, then all massage manipulations are carried out in the direction from bottom to top.

Therapeutic massage for arthrosis

Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease. Arthrosis is divided into primary and secondary. The causes of primary arthrosis are still unknown. Specialist scientists only assume that the disease occurs as a result of a metabolic disorder of cartilage tissue. This type of arthrosis includes nodular arthrosis of the joints of the hands.

Secondary arthrosis develops as a result of overload of the articular cartilage, i.e., as a result of excess body weight, decreased length of the lower limb, X- and 0-shaped lower leg, etc.

The main symptom of arthrosis is the presence of pain in the joint (arthralgia), which is mechanical in nature (occurs during exercise and disappears during moments of rest). There are other signs of the disease, they all depend on the location of the onset of arthrosis.

Massage for nodular arthrosis of the joints of the hands

With this disease, thickening of the interphalangeal joints of the hands occurs in the form of nodules, and the formation of rather dense, painful cysts near the nail bed. Arthrosis of the joints of the hands is accompanied by severe pain, impaired motor ability of the fingers, and the appearance of flexion contractures.

Massage is an effective treatment for arthrosis of the joints because it improves peripheral blood circulation, supplying the limbs and tissues of the diseased joint with oxygen and other nutrients.

The goals of massage for arthrosis of the joints:

1. Reducing pain.
2. Overcoming Stiffness.
3. Improving blood and lymph circulation in affected areas.
4. Prevention of joint stiffness and contracture development.
5. Improving the supply of limb tissues with oxygen and other nutrients.
6. Preventing muscle atrophy.

Massage of the back of the hand

Massage for joint arthrosis

Arthrosis is a disease of the joints. Contrary to popular belief, arthrosis can occur at any age. This is due to the total amount of physical activity, genetic predisposition and even climatic conditions. You can take care of your health by not only reducing, but also preventing emerging pain with the help of massage.

The initial signs of arthrosis are fatigue, complaints of pain in the joints and “stiffness” of the muscles. Such pain occurs due to circulatory disorders and hypoxia. The longer the disease progresses, the more severe the pain becomes.

Arthrosis most often affects:

At any stage of the disease, including the ankle, regardless of its intensity, massage for arthrosis of the ankle joint or simply massage of the ankle helps. Proper influence on the focal points of the disease helps to reduce pain and stop the effect of the disease as much as possible.

Greatest susceptibility to disease

Osteoarthritis of the knee joints is often found in people with leg diseases, if their profession requires straining their legs - these are dancers, including ballet dancers, miners and athletes.

Massage for arthrosis of the ankle joint is most often indicated for those who have experienced trauma in the form of a dislocation. Please note that trauma may still be felt several years after the emergency.

No more pain and stiffness in your JOINTS! Our readers are already using this method to treat their back and joints. Read more. »

The elbow joint is often deformed in wrestlers, weightlifters, circus performers and other people in similar demanding professions.

Arthrosis of the shoulder joint also most often affects athletes, loaders, and anyone who actively puts stress on their hands in their work.

All of the above types of disease also become most likely upon reaching old age due to the special vulnerability of bones and joints.

Correct massage technique

Contrary to the stereotypical opinion of non-professionals, during massage it is not necessary to act exclusively on the points themselves that experience pain. When massaging the knee joint, it is recommended to knead the body from the spine, working out the vertebrae, before getting directly to the knee massage. When practicing massage for arthrosis of the hip joint, start with the spine. For arthrosis of the shoulder joint, start with the cervical spine.

You can find a large number of videos on the Internet that will teach you how to properly massage your knees for arthrosis using a clear example.

The purpose of massage for arthrosis of the knee joint is to improve blood circulation, “wake up” it, influencing the body evenly and with a stable force. The massage should be done with both hands, in soft circular movements, and in no case with sharp shocks.

Another way to improve and consolidate the result is a massage in warm water (35–40 degrees). The patient himself will notice that when he is in water, the pain decreases.

What should you pay attention to during a massage?

Areas that especially need massage are:

7. ankles and ankles;
8. heels and tendons of this area;
9. calf area.

When massaging the elbow joint, never massage the elbow itself. This will inevitably lead to decalcification of the area, which will bring even more unwanted problems and more severe pain.

The massage is carried out in a certain sequence, moving from top to bottom. Starting the warm-up from the cervical region, you must gradually lower yourself to the cervicothoracic region, then to the shoulders and then, completely affecting the feet, ending directly with the heel area.

Massage should be carried out using soft massaging movements, alternating them with stroking and light non-point pressure. Before completing the procedure, you need to spend a few minutes restoring the body and smoothly moving away from the massage. To do this, complete the work by stroking the entire affected area. For example, if you were doing a massage aimed at treating the elbow joint, slowly stroke your entire arm from the armpit to the hand and back several times.

Alternative types of massage

Arthrosis of the hands and fingers is perhaps the most common type of this disease. This problem occurs more often in older women, but it does not escape all other categories of patients.

For arthrosis of the fingers, in addition to classical and water massages, you can do self-massage exercises. To do this, the hands are carefully clasped together and warmed up with smooth movements. The hands move rhythmically, provoking the flexibility of all fingers. These exercises will also have an effect on arthrosis of the shoulder joint. The result comes over time - you cannot force your body to exercise while overcoming severe pain. Hand massage to “resolve” joint pain requires a lot of time.

Regular exercises, such as simply tapping your fingers on a tabletop or any other surface, are helpful. Such movements will not allow your hands to “stagnate”, which will prolong and improve the effect of any massage.

Another variety is percussion hand massage for arthrosis. With this massage, you should place the massage therapist’s (healthy) hand on top of the sore palm and, gradually increasing the strength and amplitude, apply kneading blows. It is very important that the patient does not feel sharp pain in the joints.

In conclusion, I would like to repeat the well-known truth that you cannot buy health. Some age-related changes cannot be prevented, but pain can be significantly reduced, if not completely eliminated. Joint massage is a simple and effective way to help.

Categories : Diagnostics