Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a degenerative disease. Knee pain, which is the main symptom of the disease, occurs in most people over 65 years of age. There are cases when the age is significantly reduced.
For many years, the work of the knee joint has been in tandem with cartilage. They help eliminate friction between bones and protect them from premature wear. Cartilage, being shock absorbers, fails over time, joints lose it, which leads to discomfort, walking becomes harder. A person experiences a feeling of stiffness, swelling in the leg, the shape of the joint changes, and the bones begin to deteriorate. The patient's condition worsens. In serious cases, walking causes serious discomfort and is impossible.
Synovial fluid is used to lubricate the inside of the knee space. When deformed, the quantity decreases sharply, and particles of destroyed cartilage may float. They cause serious joint pain, especially when walking for a long time. Osteophytes begin to form on the bones. Neoplasms destroy surrounding tissues. Walking becomes more difficult, going down stairs with ease and impossible going up stairs. To start treatment, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe a treatment regimen, in particular, prescribe surgical intervention.
Pain in the legs is a serious illness; the knee systems are the supporting mechanism of the body. The bones, tendons, and ligaments that make up the body are susceptible to damage and injury. Diseases associated with abnormal joint function, including arthrosis, do not allow patients to perform basic work normally. Many find it difficult to get out of bed, go downstairs, climb stairs, sit, or drive a vehicle.
It is important to tune in to serious, long-term treatment, including traditional methods, independent constant monitoring of your health.
Particular attention must be paid to weight. If you have extra pounds, you need to take steps to keep your body at a healthy weight. An extra kilogram puts a serious burden on the body, which leads to the premature onset of the disease.
To monitor your weight and joints in general, you should not give up physical therapy. When your legs begin to hurt, arthrosis is diagnosed, and measures to eliminate them must be discussed with your doctor. Then start training.
One of the best sports activities is swimming and water aerobics. It is important that the exercises are carried out in water with a temperature of no more than 36°C.
Water has been used for many years, even in ancient times, for therapeutic purposes. Will have a beneficial effect on muscles.
The debate that water is beneficial for diseases in the knee cartilage area has been going on for a long time. In 2007, the Medical Council conducted studies examining the effectiveness of water exercises, exercises on land, and complete rest on the knee. Patients who previously experienced serious pain when walking, but noted positive improvements after water procedures, began to feel better.
To get a long-lasting effect, you should be responsible in following the recommendations. Visit the pool regularly for a long time. It is better to carry out the exercises prescribed by your doctor and attend a group of patients created for the treatment of diseases of the knee joint.
The exercises are effective if the patient cannot walk independently, for whom Nordic walking cannot be used for treatment.
Doctors often recommend using water procedures and Nordic walking for treatment. It is difficult for many to move; such patients have to stand in the water for physical therapy.
Physical exercises in the water space include manipulations:
You can use the devices, doctors are not against it, but only wisely. The treadmill is excluded from the list of exercise machines that should be used for leg pain. It is better to use a bicycle ergometer instead of power options. Before classes, you should pay attention to the nuances:
To treat problems associated with cartilage that do not allow you to move or exist normally, you should pay special attention to swimming, exercises in the pool, and use exercise equipment approved by your doctor, otherwise you will cause serious harm.
Doctors recommend swimming for arthrosis to improve endurance and develop flexibility. According to research, water exercises are the most effective treatment method that has no contraindications. However, it is important to remember that when diagnosing chronic joint diseases, for example, osteoarthritis, complex therapy is indicated, including not only swimming, but also taking medications. The patient is recommended to first consult with the attending physician and instructor to select the optimal training intensity.
Unlike cardio exercises on land, gymnastics in water does not put stress on damaged joints, and is also recommended for people with concomitant heart pathologies.
Swimming has a comprehensive effect on the musculoskeletal system, helping to relieve negative symptoms without the risk of mechanical damage. This gentle technique is recommended by doctors both when diagnosing arthrosis and for preventing deformities. Water aerobics is most effective for arthrosis of the knee joint, as water helps painlessly fully straighten your legs. Patients also note the following improvements after exercise in water:
It has been proven that warm water helps relax the muscle frame, and cool water is effective for severe pain. It is better to choose the optimal temperature based on the individual recommendations of the attending physician. A deterioration in the general condition of the body or an increase in pain indicates excessive training intensity or incorrect execution of the technique.
Unlike other light physical activities, swimming has a number of advantages:
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Despite the fact that hydrotherapy has no contraindications, the patient should adhere to medical recommendations so as not to worsen the body’s condition:
The patient is recommended not only to swim, but also to perform the following sports complex:
Doctors allow the use of an aqua exercise bike in the pool. However, it is advised to stretch your muscles first. In this case, the load should be evenly distributed on both legs.
To restore joint mobility, doctors recommend walking in the shallow part of the pool. Movements are shown straight, sideways or backwards. It is better to combine different directions to engage all muscle groups. Such a load can act as a warm-up or a full-fledged workout during exacerbation of arthrosis. The optimal lesson time is 10-15 minutes.
Deforming arthrosis of the hip joint (osteoarthrosis) is a fairly common joint disease, the number of patients is approximately 80 percent of the population of the CIS. People aged 50-60 suffer most from osteoarthritis, but the first symptoms can be felt at the age of 30-40 years.
With deforming arthrosis of the hip joint, the articular cartilage is affected. The cartilage in the joint serves as a shock absorber, it relieves pressure on the surface of the bones. Constant stress on the cartilage in the joint (running, jumping, other physical activity) destroys the fibers of the joint over time. For a healthy joint, these loads are not a problem, since the number of fibers is restored. But joint cartilage. Over time, it becomes dry and brittle, and its fibers are easily destroyed and cannot be restored.
The development of this disease is due to a number of factors that damage the joint cartilage throughout life and ultimately lead to the disease. Arthrosis of the ankle joint and not only it have similar factors. The risk of developing the disease can be increased by various factors, let's look at a few of the most famous:
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a degenerative disease.
Are you suffering from excruciating knee pain? If so, you are not alone. Knee pain is a very common complaint among people of all ages. Osteoarthritis of the knee is the most common disease in people over 65 years of age. Female patients with knee arthrosis account for 25.4% of cases of osteoarthritis, and male patients with this disease account for 17.6% of cases.
Osteoarthritis affects older people whose joints have lost cartilage over years of use. Cartilage is the soft substance around joints to prevent bones from rubbing. Cartilage is a shock absorber. And joint fluid lubricates the joint, facilitating bone movement. When the cartilage wears down, the bones begin to break down. The most common symptoms are a feeling of stiffness, especially in the morning or after inactivity, swelling around the joints and pain. Deterioration of the cartilage affects the shape and composition of the joint to the point that it no longer functions normally.
Next, the patient’s amount of synovial fluid decreases. The cartilage breaks down into pieces that can float in the joint fluid, causing pain. This releases chemicals called cytokines (proteins that cause inflammation). This causes even more damage, pain, and swelling. Osteophytes form at the ends of bones, causing damage to surrounding tissue and causing pain. Movements become painful and difficult. There may be difficulty walking and going up and down stairs.
Path to page: Home » Coxarthrosis • Treatment » Treatment of coxarthrosis of the hip joint - continued
Many of our contemporaries experienced joint pain. Especially often it is older people who complain about such things, although the disease can reach almost anyone - age is not a hindrance here. And what gender a person is, what nationality he is and what he does - all this does not play any role. You may have heard about coxarthrosis, which is a rather serious disease.
If not, then let us explain: coxarthrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic change that occurs in the hip joint, destroying it over time.
As cartilage tissue loses its former structure and joint pain intensifies, the joint itself gradually becomes deformed - which is why coxarthrosis is also known as arthrosis of the hip joint. Previously, this disease mainly affected only older people, but now, when the growth of diseases of the musculoskeletal system has increased markedly, the average age of the patient is 40 years, and sometimes they are even younger. Why does this unpleasant disease develop?
The first reason is a disruption of the regulatory system of the human body. There is a disruption of metabolic processes, the functioning of the lymphatic and hormonal systems, and immunity. All this leads to a deficiency of joint fluid, the remains of which become thicker and more viscous, and therefore cannot provide normal lubrication of the surfaces of the joints. This is why cartilage tissue wears out and, as a result, coxarthrosis develops.
In advanced stages, treatment of coxarthrosis of the hip joint means joint replacement surgery.
Nowadays, for coxarthrosis, endoprosthetics is usually performed, that is, complete replacement of a deformed joint with an artificial one.
Along with physical exercises in water, swimming is successfully used arthrosis . When swimming, the range of motion in the joints increases due to the fact that, with the same muscle effort, the resistance of stretched soft tissues in the aquatic environment is less. In addition, during swimming, differentiated strengthening of certain muscle groups can be achieved.
The style and method of swimming with arthrosis are determined by the typical nature of the limitation of movements in the joint during the initial symptoms of arthrosis (limitation of the amplitude of abduction and internal rotation with coxarthrosis, limitation of extension in the knee joint with arthrosis of the knee joint and extension in the ankle joint with arthrosis of the ankle joint). When abduction and external rotation in the hip joint and extension in the ankle joint are limited, breaststroke swimming on the chest is advisable, and freestyle swimming is advisable when hip extension is limited.
In the process of swimming, it is possible to strengthen (especially with coxarthrosis), without overloading the lower limb, the muscles that stabilize the joints, primarily the extensors of the hip, knee joints and flexors of the ankle joint (gluteal muscles, quadriceps femoris, triceps surae, etc.) .
If your swimming technique is not satisfactory (poor coordination of movements), it is advisable to start not with swimming, but with precise practice of swimming movements in the water, holding your hands to the side of the pool.
For coxarthrosis, leg movements in the breaststroke style and freestyle in the position on the chest and back are useful.
You can swim? Swimming in the sea and swimming in a pool are a little different, but unfortunately not everyone has access to salt water year-round. The pool is a great place where you relieve fatigue and get a boost of energy! And it is he who will help get rid of ten diseases! Look what!
Swim, take care of yourself, smile more often and BE HEALTHY!
When swimming, water affects nerve endings throughout the entire surface of the body, relaxing and calming. The influence of water temperature regulates the processes of excitation and inhibition, relieves fatigue, improves memory and attention by improving blood circulation in the brain.
All this has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system - after swimming, a person falls asleep easier and sleeps more soundly.
In addition, water evokes pleasant associations that are missing in everyday life, which has a beneficial effect on the psycho-emotional state in general.
2. Joint diseases (osteochondrosis, arthritis, arthrosis)
In many cases, swimming is the only sport and physical activity that is indicated for joint diseases, since in water a person does not feel the weight of his body.
Smooth movements in the water massage the periarticular tissues, thereby improving the outflow of lymph and reducing swelling of the joints. cartilage tissue is regenerated and spasmed muscles relax.
3. Herniated discs
According to statistics, today for every 100 thousand people there are 100 cases of intervertebral disc herniation. In many cases, swimming in the pool helps a person cure this disease without surgery.
Exercising in the pool allows you to strengthen your back muscles, which ultimately take on part of the load, thereby relieving the damaged intervertebral disc.
4. Paralysis and partial loss of the ability to move
The main manifestation of paralysis is the absence or decrease in voluntary motor activity, as a result of which a person loses the ability to walk and make active movements. Therefore, swimming is practically the only option for physical activity.
Swimming is also an effective means of preventing strokes, which often lead to paralysis. Swimming helps normalize vascular tone and pressure, and also effectively fights obesity, which is also the cause of arterial hypertension (the cause of stroke).
5. Rehabilitation after injuries
According to statistics, every eighth inhabitant of the planet receives a serious injury at least once during his life in the form of fractures, back injuries, meniscal tears and other knee injuries. Most injuries lead to surgery, after which the human body requires recovery.
Swimming in the pool promotes rapid restoration of the muscular paravertebral frame, restores muscle tone and reduces pain, which allows you to expand your motor range.
Swimming for obesity puts a simultaneous load on all muscles, but at the same time completely removes it from the spine and leg joints, compared to any “land” physical activity, because water provides the effect of weightlessness.
In addition, swimming, water aerobics and even just swimming are very beneficial for the cardiovascular system (a big problem for obese people): blood circulation improves, blood flow goes to all internal organs, while the outflow of blood from the periphery also improves, and blood pressure stabilizes.
Swimming is an effective means of treating and preventing diseases of the cardiovascular system, such as: hypertension, angina pectoris, vegetative-vascular dystonia, atherosclerotic vascular lesions.
The use of swimming for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system makes it possible to reduce the load on the body from the use of chemicals, and sometimes even abandon them altogether.
8. Bronchitis and bronchial asthma
Swimming is both a breathing exercise and a massage, and also has its own effect on our respiratory system. Exercises in the pool are recommended for all patients with bronchopulmonary pathology, and swimming is perfect for preventing and improving the functional parameters of the respiratory system, as well as the resistance of the whole body.
For people suffering from pathology of the bronchopulmonary apparatus, it is not only advisable, but vitally necessary to engage in swimming.
9. Varicose veins
Patients with varicose veins are prohibited from many strength exercises in the gym, running and intense aerobics, as this leads to increased stress on the legs, which increases venous pressure in the lower extremities. This leads to the development and worsening of varicose veins.
Training in the pool, in turn, does not have such consequences. During swimming, due to the body being in a horizontal position, blood flows out of the legs, and there is also a decrease in the load on the legs compared to other sports. Swimming has a beneficial effect on the veins, providing them with relaxation and normal blood circulation.
Poor posture is a common health problem in children. If in the elementary grades poor posture is registered only in every fifteenth child, then by the time they graduate from school it occurs in half of the children.
During swimming, the human body is in a weightless state, due to which the gravitational loads on the spine are reduced.
At the same time, it stimulates the strengthening of the muscular corset of the spinal column, harmonizes the tone of the paravertebral muscles, muscles of the chest and lower back. Swimming develops coordination of movements, which largely suffers in children with poor posture.
After a meniscus injury, swimming is not recommended in the first days until the postoperative wound heals. In the first days, only therapeutic exercises are performed - lying in bed or sitting. Gymnastics consists of performing passive movements of a flexion and extension nature.
As soon as the postoperative wound has healed, you can begin regular exercise in the pool. Swimming as a way of rehabilitation after a meniscus injury is good because it allows you to strengthen the ligaments of the knee joint and reduce the severity of pain. In addition, swimming pool exercises are an excellent way to prevent the development of postoperative arthrosis of the knee joint and contractures. In addition, swimming helps to get rid of excess body weight. This is especially true for patients who have had a meniscus removed, as they have a much higher risk of developing knee arthrosis.
Exercises in the postoperative period are mainly associated with performing active movements of the legs in the water. This allows you to develop muscles and ligaments, while the knee joint and meniscus itself are not loaded too much. In this parameter, exercises in the pool are much superior to physical therapy.
In the first stages, when classes in the pool are just beginning, the patient performs movements similar to pedaling a bicycle. These movements provide the minimum necessary load on the knee joint. Subsequently, these movements are supplemented with exercises with increased load on the muscles, with a change in the direction of movement. These exercises allow you to create a vortex water flow. All exercises are performed by the patient holding the pool handrails. The body is positioned both vertically and horizontally - alternately.
As soon as the pain in the knee joint ceases to manifest itself while walking, the patient can begin active training - full-fledged swimming. Swimming in different styles helps strengthen different muscle groups and prevent their atrophy and weakness.
The optimal frequency of training is every other day. In some cases (on the recommendation of a doctor), the load can be increased and exercised daily, but in this case it is necessary to take at least one day off per week.
After surgery on the meniscus, you must strictly follow all the instructions of your doctor and do not try to exercise more intensely than recommended. This will significantly reduce pain in the joint area, prevent the risk of sutures coming apart, and help avoid relapses and possible complications after surgery.
If you experience pain in the knee joint after swimming in the pool, you should stop swimming for a few days. It is necessary to resume exercise only on the recommendation of a doctor and start again with light exercises, gradually moving on to more complex ones and increasing the load on the muscles. It is also recommended to coordinate the use of pain medications with the doctor if the pain is difficult for the patient to tolerate.
In some cases, complications may develop after surgery - increased body temperature, persistent pain in the knee joint, suppuration, etc.
In such a situation, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible and stop all activities until you feel better. You can return to exercise in the pool no earlier than the above symptoms disappear.
An excellent remedy for the treatment of spinal diseases are exercises in the pool. Does swimming help with a herniated disc? Water exercises are useful for diseases of the musculoskeletal system such as intervertebral hernia, spinal curvature, arthrosis and injuries.
Various exercises in the pool for the spine will help the patient not only restore health after surgery or drug therapy, but also improve his psycho-emotional state. Swimming for scoliosis, arthrosis of the knee joint and spinal hernia helps reduce pain, since immersion in water relieves the load on all muscle groups. Therapeutic swimming and exercises in the aquatic environment as an element of physical education can have a positive effect on the patient’s health and well-being.
Intervertebral hernia is a disease that occurs as a result of metabolic disorders and a sedentary lifestyle. In this case, the core of the intervertebral disc is displaced with rupture of the fibrous ring. Most often, hernias occur in the lumbosacral spine, which leads to the patient experiencing severe pain. For spinal hernia, various swimming exercise techniques have been developed. In this case, everything depends on the preparation of the patient and his well-being.
The following types of exercises are recommended.
All types of health techniques should be carried out under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine. The disease can be either congenital or acquired. The main direction in the treatment of scoliosis is to consolidate the usual position of the shoulder girdle and correct the spinal deformity.
There are many exercises that can help treat scoliosis. At this stage, different types of exercises are developed for each degree of the disease, and there are four of them. This can be either various swimming techniques (crawl, breaststroke) or exercises in the aquatic environment.
Water aerobics is ideal for the treatment of scoliosis
However, it should be noted that for various types of scoliosis, twisting exercises are completely unacceptable. Therefore, this stage of physical therapy must be excluded from the course of treatment for scoliosis. Pool exercises that are suitable for scoliosis patients include back and forth somersaults, sliding, backstroke and breathing exercises.
Do not forget about proper breathing as an important element of exercise for scoliosis. The inhalation should be long and the exhalation should be quick. In this case, the supporting muscles are saturated with blood. Metabolism accelerates, which has a positive effect on the condition of the vertebrae. That is, the treatment of scoliosis and swimming are closely interrelated.
Therapeutic swimming for scoliosis perfectly helps to improve the general condition of the patient, improve tone and mood.
With a compression fracture, injuries to the spine occur that result in compression of a specific vertebra. This can cause compression of the spinal cord. These injuries are very serious damage, and the recovery period after them is quite long. In addition to drug therapy, as part of physical therapy, you can offer the patient exercises in the pool. This can be either swimming or water gymnastics.
All pool exercises for patients with compression fractures should be performed with great care. The patient should not experience any negative feelings. The water temperature in the pool should be close to body temperature.
A vertebral fracture is a serious injury
To carry out rehabilitation measures after a compression injury, several factors must be taken into account. This includes the patient’s condition, his age, and the location of the fracture. Therapeutic exercises in water are also indicated for more serious changes, such as significant compression, disruption of several vertebrae and concentration of fractures in the lumbar and thoracic spine. In these cases, a good effect occurs when using a special strengthening corset, which allows you not to worry about the worsening of anatomical disorders in the fracture area during swimming. With the help of a corset, the patient will be able to feel more confident in the water, without fear of damaging the injury site.
Osteoarthritis most often affects older people. It occurs as a result of thinning and wear of the articular cartilage, which now cannot provide adequate shock absorption during movement. As a result, the patient experiences severe pain during exercise. The patient cannot continue to live a normal life, as severe pain becomes his constant companion. In order to reduce pain and increase joint mobility, exercises are carried out in an aquatic environment.
The main types of water exercises for arthrosis of the knee joint are passive loads, but swimming is also used. Swimming style is determined by the degree of joint mobility. If there is restriction of movement in the hip joint, then you need to choose breaststroke swimming. If hip mobility is limited, then freestyle is indicated.
Squats in water are useful for arthrosis of the knee joint
In order to achieve positive results in the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint, knee flexion and extension, and squats in water are performed. You can offer the patient exercises to move the leg to the side and back and turn inward and outward. The greater the range of motion, the better.
In an aquatic environment it is much easier to achieve increased joint mobility and flexibility than in air. This should be done only under the guidance of an experienced trainer, without disturbing the psycho-emotional state of the patient. These same types of exercises are also suitable for arthrosis of the hip joint. With this disease, water exercises not only help prevent joint diseases, but are also part of complex therapy for their treatment.
In addition, for all these diseases, exercises in water can be combined with hydrokinesotherapy, that is, exercises not only in the pool, but also in the bathroom or shower. It is advisable to use hydromassage and Charcot shower. You can take baths with decoctions of medicinal herbs.
Despite the fact that therapeutic exercises in the pool seem quite harmless, there are a number of contraindications for its implementation. It is better to refuse water procedures if the disease is in the acute stage, there are circulatory disorders, heart failure, skin diseases, and also if the patient has a cold or flu.
The knees are one of the important complex compounds in the body. The knees are made up of ligaments, tendons and bones. They are very susceptible to injury and damage. But taking steps to strengthen and support your knees can help prevent pain. Many patients with knee osteoarthritis find that pain prevents them from performing normal daily activities, such as getting out of bed, walking up and down the stairs, or driving a car. When they go to work, they are unable to perform work during the workday, especially when it involves standing for long periods of time or the need to sit for long periods of time.
In addition to traditional treatment, the patient himself can do a lot for his health. To help yourself, you need to change your lifestyle.
You need to get rid of extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight. This is the best thing you can do for your bad knees. Each additional kg creates additional stress on the joints and worsens their condition. If you already have sore knees, you can do exercises that will help you regain strength in the muscles surrounding the joint to improve knee function and reduce pain. Because it's not really the knees that hurt. The muscles surrounding the knee joint hurt.
You need to do physical therapy. To stay strong and flexible, you can participate in some sports activities that your doctor allows. It is very important. Because weak muscles do not support damaged joints well and can cause knee injury. You need to strengthen your quadriceps and hamstrings, which support your legs at the knees.
The best type of sports for knee arthrosis is swimming and water aerobics. This is very effective for arthrosis of the knee joint. Water workouts can include aerobic exercises that strengthen endurance and flexibility. Exercises in water are performed in warm water 34-36°C.
The water has been used for therapeutic purposes for many decades.
On October 17, 2007, a report from the international medical community was published in the Cochrane Digital Library. Patients with arthrosis of the knee and hip joint participated in the study over a period of 3 months. During the studies, patients performed aquatic exercises at various intervals. Other patients performed ground exercises. The third group of patients did not perform exercises.
The researchers concluded that in people with knee osteoarthritis, regular aquatic exercise may reduce pain by more than one point on a scale of 0 to 20 and joint function by three points on a scale of 0 to 68. In patients who engaged in water exercises, there was an improvement in joint function and quality of life, and positive changes in the level of pain.
Researchers have found that water exercises have a beneficial effect on the condition of knees with arthrosis only with long-term, regular water exercises. In the long term, exercise in water can actually reduce pain and strengthen the muscles that surround your joints. Water exercises are especially suitable for those patients who have difficulty moving due to severe arthrosis.
Sports doctors recommend that athletes use water for rehabilitation after injuries.
I. Walking on water.
II. Exercises in water.
Before you begin any exercise in water, you should always discuss such activities with your doctor. This is to make sure that the benefits for you outweigh the risks (for example, overloading damaged joints). You need to find out from your doctor which water exercises are right for you and in what volume, so as not to overdo it and harm yourself by aggravating the pain.
All water exercises support the muscles of the legs, knees and increase its flexibility. Exercises in water provide natural resistance to the leg muscles, making them easier to perform than on land.
There is a very large category of people who have not been helped by any treatment, but only joint replacement. So, such patients are required to visit the pool as part of their rehabilitation after knee replacement. All the techniques described below are also relevant for those who have undergone surgery.
Most aquatic workouts consist of exercises that are performed in an upright position.
III. The pool often has a gym.
Can the exercise machine be used by patients with knee arthrosis? Yes, you can. But not any simulator is suitable. You should not use a machine such as a treadmill. It is unacceptable to use a simulator that creates a shock load on the joint. Weight training equipment is prohibited. You can use a bicycle ergometer. But before you go to the simulator, you need to remember the following rules:
For arthrosis of the knee joint, exercises in water and swimming improve the condition of the joint: range of motion, flexibility, relieve joint pain and stiffness. You can use a trainer approved by your doctor. This will slow down the development of knee arthrosis. A correctly selected simulator contributes to the effective treatment of the disease and rehabilitation of the patient.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a common disease, present in 30% of the population. The second name of the disease is gonarthrosis. The disease is specific and causes a lot of discomfort and pain. But such a diagnosis is not a reason to panic. Knee pain should be a signal to start a health-improving physical training method. One of the popular methods of treating knee arthrosis is swimming, or water aerobics. Does swimming help with knee arthrosis? According to medical statistics compiled on the basis of patients who have undergone treatment, water aerobics allows you to regain full mobility of the knee and eliminate pain and discomfort in the affected area.
Is it possible to swim in the pool with arthrosis of the knee joint? The relevance of this issue can be traced back to 2007, from the moment when methods of treating this disease began to be closely studied. A group of patients was selected and divided into two teams. The first group did exercises exclusively on land, the second - water procedures.
The results showed that patients exercising on land quickly lost pain and discomfort, but joint mobility did not return for a long time. The group exercising in water restored the functionality of the affected knee faster.
From this it follows that swimming is best suited for joints that require restoration. Water procedures have a tremendous therapeutic effect. When exercising in water, a person warms up not only his joints, but also his muscles. The therapeutic course varies individually based on the degree of damage to the knee space, the severity of the disease and the chronology of the disease. You can do it yourself, but treatment will take longer.
Does swimming help young and old people with joint pain? Water procedures are intended for all age categories. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be obtained as a work injury or occurs as an age-related phenomenon. Visiting the pool and doing water aerobics helps normalize the performance of the knee and restore the mobility of the affected joints. How exactly does swimming help:
Is it possible to swim in the pool with arthrosis and severe pain? This situation is acceptable, but the duration of the therapeutic course will double.
Any physiotherapeutic procedures must comply with the standards of the lower pain threshold in the affected knee. Having considered all the benefits of swimming, it is important to remember that excess stress on the joints will have an adverse effect.
Swimming for joints will be beneficial as long as a person reasonably calculates his strength. The level of load should be even on the upper and lower body. The key factor to consider here is the lack of sensation of water pressure on the sore knee area. As a rule, the load on the patient is selected by the attending physician on an individual basis, but when visiting the pool on your own, you need to remember several practical recommendations:
During the first lessons, it is very important to have an assistant or just a relative nearby. Joints that are unaccustomed to physical activity may not immediately get used to water procedures, which will seriously interfere with swimming.
Important to know: Doctors recommend that during your first sessions in the pool you only immerse your feet in warm water and do not perform any exercises. Thus, the knee space adapts to future loads and the first water aerobics classes will take place without serious pain.
The key factors in choosing exercises are the person’s age, physical fitness and stage of the disease, which needs to be discussed in some detail.
Different degrees of stress can have a positive or negative effect on the patient’s health. If you overdo it at the initial stage of arthrosis development (incubation period), you can only accelerate the progression of the disease.
During the period of remission, methodological exercises are very important. You need to do smooth, slow, but long-term exercises to strengthen the condition of your muscles and joints. Swimming and arthrosis are compatible concepts, if you recognize the fine line between recommended methods and undesirable exercises.
In acute form, it is highly not recommended to exercise more than 15–20 minutes a day. This is due to the fact that in an aggressive form of arthrosis of the knee joint, the affected area becomes very swollen and red, and the existing pain does not decrease even in the pool.
Note: The patient needs to take into account not only the condition of the knee space, but also his own well-being, since a comprehensive therapeutic course involves exercise on land. It is necessary to calculate the forces evenly.
Learning to live with arthrosis is extremely difficult. It is necessary to strengthen the muscles responsible for supporting the joints. This will be enough to climb the stairs on your own without experiencing attacks of pain. Swimming for arthrosis of the knee joint, why is it useful to perform water procedures to strengthen the muscle structure? While swimming, the patient differentially develops specific muscle groups that are responsible specifically for the affected joints.
Which swimming style should you choose? There are two main methods - “breaststroke” or “freestyle”. Depending on the stage of damage to the knee space, the choice will be made. For beginner patients, experts recommend a “free” style. This method only involves extension and flexion of a certain affected area, without any additional loads.
For experienced people with appropriate physical shape, the breaststroke style will be preferable. This is a comprehensive methodology that combines exercises to warm up and strengthen muscles. To choose an individual swimming method, just contact your treating specialist. Failing this, hold onto the side of the pool with one hand and perform swimming movements. The exercises that cause the least pain are your own style.
It is important to know: in order to prevent further progression and exacerbation of arthrosis, it is strictly forbidden to take painkillers shortly before the start of training. When taking medications, you may not notice an overload of the muscular structure of the knee space, which will lead to a worsening of the situation.
Independently choosing a style and appropriate exercises can take a long time. Moreover, the first and long-awaited results will appear only after a few weeks. For cases when a person wants to start a therapeutic course as quickly as possible, a special set of exercises has been developed for the treatment and prevention of the disease. So, how to swim correctly with arthrosis of the knee joint:
These are just a few exercises from a whole range of exercises designed to stabilize the muscle and joint structure of the legs. If necessary, the attending physician will select the required set of classes according to the patient’s wishes.