How to prevent arthritis. Measures to prevent different types of arthritis Proper distribution of loads

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people suffering from arthritis is on the rise. The disease is now the leading cause of disability nationwide, and more women are being diagnosed than ever before. So what is this disease and how to prevent arthritis?

What is arthritis

Arthritis is a joint disease caused by inflammation. It usually occurs when two joints rub against each other after the protective cartilage (the fluid that keeps bones from touching) wears down, but arthritis can also be due to an autoimmune reaction.

There are over a hundred diagnosed forms of arthritis, and it can develop from wear and tear on cartilage, like osteoarthritis, or it can be associated with inflammation from disorders of the immune system, like rheumatoid arthritis.

Causes of Arthritis

There are several reasons why a person may develop arthritis. These include:

Many other causes of arthritis are still unclear.

arthritis symptoms

People who suffer from arthritis may experience dozens of painful symptoms, including joint inflammation and redness, joint stiffness, swelling, and tenderness. Severe cases of arthritis can lead to even more complex symptoms, including fever, swelling of the gland, weight loss, fatigue, and problems with the lungs, heart, or kidneys.

Who can get arthritis

Almost anyone can get arthritis. Approximately three hundred and fifty million people suffer from this disease worldwide. More than half of arthritis patients are under the age of sixty-five and nearly sixty percent are women.

How to know if you have arthritis? The first step in diagnosing a disease is to identify the symptoms listed above.

If you begin to notice intermittent joint pain or inflammation, see your doctor immediately.

After that, your doctor will most likely ask for a blood test and an X-ray of the affected joints. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will refer you to a rheumatologist, a doctor who has special training in the treatment of arthritis and related conditions. You will then be given a treatment plan that is appropriate for your condition.

Arthritis treatment

Treatment largely depends on the type of arthritis you've been diagnosed with. General procedures include:

• Physiotherapy;
• Splinting (your joints will be immobilized for a while to reduce swelling);
• Ice therapy (you will be asked to regularly apply ice to your joints)
• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Operation.

Arthritis Prevention Tips

There are several things you can do to reduce your chances of developing arthritis. Here are just a few of them:

There are over a hundred forms of arthritis, and the symptoms of this disease can be excruciating. However, there are things you can do to protect your joints and prevent discomfort.

disease data

Arthritis is a very common problem that affects millions of people. It should be understood that this is not a single disease, but a combination of about a hundred symptoms that affect the joints, causing pain, stiffness and swelling. Carpal tunnel syndrome, gout, fibromyalgia, lupus, and osteoarthritis are among the possible diagnoses. The disease is not always preventable, however, there are tips that can be followed to reduce the risk and severity of symptoms.

Control your weight

A simple tip is also the most effective: try to eat right and maintain a normal level of activity so that your weight remains healthy. Obesity puts extra stress on the joints of the hips and knees. Studies have shown that being overweight increases the likelihood of osteoarthritis of the knee by up to five times when compared with people of a healthy weight.

Drink green tea

It is warm and soothing, and it is also extremely beneficial for the joints. Studies looking at foods that reduce inflammation and improve arthritis symptoms have shown that green tea is high in beneficial antioxidants. It helps preserve bones and ligaments in arthritis.

Use baking soda

It turns out that baking soda can be extremely beneficial. Recent studies have shown that drinking water with baking soda daily can help reduce inflammation in the body. The authors of the study found that this mixture boosts the work of immune cells, which is why they fight inflammation, rather than exacerbate it. This is noticeable in the internal organs and in the composition of the blood, scientists say. However, further research is required.

Take a stretch break

Repetitive motions, such as typing on a keyboard, can aggravate arthritis symptoms. You need to take a break to stretch. Try to fulfill different exercises to help reduce stress in your body and improve your productivity.

Go for a little run

It is not uncommon for runners to be led to believe that the sport is bad for the joints, but research suggests otherwise. Scientists have found that running reduces the risk of osteoarthritis and the need for hip replacements.

Maintain an optimistic approach

Keeping an optimistic outlook on life can go a long way in helping control arthritis symptoms. Research shows that maintaining a positive outlook on life significantly reduces chronic pain.

Eat more fish

Studies have shown that arthritis patients who eat fish twice a week experience less pain and discomfort than those who eat fish less than once a month. The thing is that fish is rich in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, which have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Walk up the stairs

If your joints hurt, you might instinctively think it's best to take the elevator. However, staying active is what keeps you comfortable.

Plan Your Workouts

It is important to move daily and plan your workouts carefully. People with arthritis who exercise regularly experience less discomfort.

Eat a variety of foods

Whether you suffer from arthritis or not, you should follow an anti-inflammatory diet. Sugar and processed foods exacerbate inflammation, while fruits, vegetables, and lean meats reduce the risk of arthritis and promote health.

get enough sleep

Try to sleep on a fixed schedule. Getting enough sleep will help reduce discomfort.

Quit smoking

There are a number of reasons why you should give up cigarettes. Among them is the fact that smoking increases the risk of arthritis by 26%.

Drink plenty of water. Technically, the role of cartilage in a joint is largely identical to that of a spring. Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of this “spring”. Since cartilage is 70% water, you can extend the life of the “spring” if you drink at least 2 liters of water per day.

• Coffee, tea and soft drinks, of course, also contain water - but these liquids also have a diuretic, diuretic property, that is, their use does not replenish, but reduces fluid reserves in the body. Accordingly, you need to drink water.

Take more calcium. Dairy products should be more than widely represented in your diet, because they contain calcium. In addition, other calcium-rich foods like broccoli, salmon, spinach, black beans, tofu, sardines, sesame, etc. are good to eat.

Take more vitamins. Vitamins C and D are very important for joint health. Especially D - it prevents the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Alas, people living in the north or in other regions where there is little sunlight are often faced with a deficiency of vitamin D in the body, and it is this vitamin that helps us absorb calcium! Eat salmon, tuna, yogurt, eggs and beef - they are high in vitamin D.

• Most importantly, do not forget to consult a doctor so as not to overdo it.

Prevention of arthritis necessary condition to preserve the health of the joints, prevent the development of inflammation, maintain the motor activity of the limbs.

The causes of the development of inflammatory processes in the area of ​​​​articular joints can be various factors. These are autoimmune disorders, past infections, severe hypothermia, injuries. As a result of arthritis, not only the joints themselves are affected, but also important systems of the body - cardiac, excretory, digestive.

Read about the basics of preventing arthritis of the joints in this article.

Risk group

Everyone needs to think about measures to prevent arthritis. But for some people, the question "how to prevent arthritis of the joints" is especially important.

Who should be especially careful?

• Ladies who have crossed the 45-year age limit - due to hormonal changes in the body.
• Young people 20-35 years old who are promiscuous.
• Children with negative heredity.
• Men over 55 years old.
• Allergy sufferers.
• Professional athletes and dancers.
• People whose activities are associated with overloading the limbs, frequent weight lifting.

To enjoy freedom of movement and easy walking for as long as possible, follow these arthritis prevention tips.

1. Take care of yourself, dress for the weather. So you reduce the risk of hypothermia of the articular joints.
2. Wear comfortable and high-quality shoes, if necessary - with orthopedic insoles. Avoid cheap shoes made of rigid materials that do not allow air to pass through. Heels - only on holidays!
3. When sitting, try not to cross your legs. The habit of sitting in this position will lead to chronic blood stasis, and then to joint ailments.
4. Let the menu be balanced, rich in vitamins, without excess calories. Vitamin B is especially useful for the prevention of joint diseases, the supply of which must be constantly replenished. Build your diet on cereals, vegetables and fruits, lean meat and sea fish are useful. Be sure to include natural supplements such as honey, garlic, turmeric in your diet.
5. If there is excess weight, ruthlessly get rid of it. Overloading the limbs is a risk of arthritis.
6. Drink water! This rule is a panacea for many diseases, not only arthritis, but also varicose veins, gastrointestinal problems, and kidney ailments. Drinking more than 2 liters of fluid per day will help rid the body of excess salt, prevent inflammation and many other troubles.
7. Try to exercise regularly "for health", without undue stress, to maintain vigor. If arthritis is already present, the doctor will select a set of exercises.
8. Excess alcohol, smoking is an unconditional taboo.

And finally - no matter how trite it may sound, take care of the nervous system! Frequent stress can undermine even the strongest health.

Prevention of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder of the body's autoimmune processes that causes inflammation of the joints. It often manifests itself in the form of polyarthritis - multiple lesions of the joints. First, the joints of the fingers become inflamed, and then the knee, elbow, and hip joints.

Prevention of rheumatoid arthritis includes 2 stages:

• General disease prevention measures for those at risk.
• Prevention of polyarthritis in people who have already had this disease.

Stage 1

1. Treatment of ailments of an infectious nature, any, up to the usual SARS.
2. Relief of inflammatory processes in the body (of any etiology).
3. Restoration and strengthening of the body's immune system.
4. Establishing a daily routine - night sleep, regular and balanced nutrition, exclusion of harmful addictions.

Stage 2

If the patient has already had rheumatoid arthritis, prophylaxis should be as follows:

• Courses of anti-inflammatory drugs, taking funds to restore articular cartilage, tendons and ligaments (chondroprotectors).
• Regular exercise therapy. It can be not only classical exercises, but also swimming in the pool, cycling, yoga. Regular activity is especially important in the prevention of arthritis of the hip joints.
• Diet for patients with rheumatoid disease involves the exclusion of potential allergens - smoked meats, salty, pickled foods, seafood, spices, certain types of fruits and vegetables.
• Home remedies for the prevention of the disease, such as a compress of apple cider vinegar on a sore knee, thigh or elbow, lotions of analgin or aspirin with honey, the use of infusions of medicinal herbs instead of tea.

Reactive Arthritis Prevention

The cause of this disease are infections: respiratory, genitourinary system, organs of the gastrointestinal tract. To prevent the destruction of bones due to infection of the body, take the following measures:

1. Observe daily hygiene. In addition to traditional handwashing, make sure food preparation items are thoroughly washed and heat treated. Eggs and meat should be boiled / fried until cooked, fruits and vegetables should be washed with soap and thoroughly wiped, and dairy products should be bought only in trusted stores and farms. Taking food from unfamiliar private traders means exposing yourself to the risk of salmonellosis, dysentery, botulism and other serious disorders.
2. Try to lead an orderly sex life. In the absence of a permanent partner, use condoms.
3. Nutrition should be balanced and give the body all the necessary substances.
4. If there are already prerequisites for the development of arthritic ailments, you should undergo preventive examinations with a rheumatologist 2 times a year.
5. You should stop smoking and abuse alcohol. Perhaps it is unnecessary to comment on this rule.

Prevention of hip arthritis

Arthritis in old age often affects this largest joint. The consequences of the disease can be bleak - from limited mobility to irreversible disability, when the patient is literally bedridden.

To avoid such a future, start taking preventive measures today.

• Be sure to balance your diet, do not often eat fried, pickled, overly salty and fatty foods. Let your plate be 2/3 of cereals and vegetables, and 1/3 of lean meat. Avoid ready-made sauces - mayonnaise and ketchup, preferring vegetable oils, low-fat sour cream and natural yogurt. Drink clean water, as well as fruit and vegetable juices, herbal infusions, green and white tea, chicory infusion.
• Lead an active life. Try to regularly get out into the fresh air for an evening exercise, classes in the swimming pool, cycling are welcome. Consult with your doctor and he will give you recommendations on the course of exercise therapy for the hip joints.
• Avoid cases where the joints may be exposed to hypothermia, dress for the weather, try to keep your feet warm.
• Carefully treat the consequences of injuries, if necessary, go through a full course of physiotherapy procedures.
• Choose high-quality, comfortable clothes and shoes. Pants should not constrain the hip area, interfere with the breathing of the skin, limit freedom of movement. Buy shoes from good material that will be comfortable and hygroscopic. Make sure the shoe fits your foot. Otherwise, the gait will be deformed, which in the long term entails the risk of arthritis of the hip joints.
• If you have already had coxitis, regularly see a rheumatologist to monitor the condition of the joints. It is necessary to periodically take courses of drugs that prevent the breakdown of cartilage and bone tissue, such as Honda, Chondrogard, Chondroitin Sulfate.

Prevention of arthritis in children

The causes of juvenile (childhood) arthritis are often incompletely cured infections, diseases of a different etiology. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that any disease is fully treated. In addition, frequent SARS and influenza should be avoided, especially during the infection season.

From an early age, it is important to carry out activities to harden the baby, strengthen his immune system.

An important element in the prevention of juvenile arthritis is a balanced diet. A diet containing the necessary amount of valuable substances and vitamins is especially important for a rapidly growing organism.

Organize a summer vacation for your child. Preferred options are sea holidays, resorts, sanatoriums, trips to the village for vacations, summer in the country.

Joint diseases have become quite a mass phenomenon in recent years. It is often believed that obese, inactive and elderly people suffer from these diseases. I want to immediately upset everyone - this is not so, and figure out together the causes of joint diseases.

The main objective of this article is to attract young people, to inform them about all the risks in order to protect themselves from all the causes that can lead to joint diseases, as well as to start early prevention of diseases and improve the body.

The causes of joint diseases are extremely diverse and largely unexplored. Only the reasons for the development of infectious specific arthritis (tuberculous, gonorrheal, brucellosis, etc.) associated with a specific infection are known for sure. As for all the other numerous forms of joint damage, then, according to modern ideas, their development is associated with a complex of many internal and external factors, the specific weight of each of which has not yet been sufficiently identified.

1. Infection. The role of infections in various forms joint disease is not the same. In infectious specific arthritis, the infectious agent (mycobacterium tuberculosis, streptococcus, gonococci, chlamydia, etc.) is the determining cause of the disease. In this case, both a metastatic path is possible due to the transfer of microbes through the blood and lymphatic vessels from the primary focus of the disease to the joints, and a toxic-allergic path of joint damage. The microbial pathogen in these diseases can be found in the joint effusion (for example, gonococcus, tubercle bacillus, etc.), and in some cases in the blood of patients. The occurrence of rheumatism and infectious non-specific polyarthritis is associated with focal streptococcal infection, since the occurrence and exacerbation of these diseases is often provoked by tonsillitis, chronic tonsillitis and other infectious foci. This is confirmed by the increased level of anti-streptococcal antibodies in the blood of patients, the sowing of streptococcus from the throat and blood of patients with rheumatism, and, finally, the good effectiveness of bacilli-prevention of relapses of these diseases.
However, focal infection in rheumatism and arthritis plays only the role of a trigger mechanism, and the determining role in the development of these diseases, according to modern concepts, belongs to the state of general and immunological reactivity, on which the course and outcome of the disease depends, which, simply put, should be understood as a reaction immune system in response to exposure to antigens, which are proteins and protein-containing components of infectious agents. Some authors consider rheumatism as a disease of a dual (viral-streptococcal) nature, believing that the disease is caused by a specific virus, and the associated streptococcal infection causes a non-specific allergic reaction. Thus, in all diseases of the joints, infection plays an important role.

2. Allergy. The change in the general reactivity of the body (in the direction of its allergic setting) is currently of primary importance in the development of a number of inflammatory diseases of the joints, primarily rheumatism and infectious non-specific polyarthritis. Both of these diseases, occurring with bright allergic reactions, are now considered as infectious-allergic. There are allergic forms of other infectious arthritis, such as tuberculous, gonorrheal, dysentery, etc.
However, the chronic, progressive course of rheumatism and infectious non-specific polyarthritis cannot be explained only from the point of view of infectious allergy, since, revealing a clear dependence on the infectious factor at the onset of the disease, these diseases often proceed in the future as if autonomously, giving5 "spontaneous", seemingly unmotivated relapses. This fact finds an explanation from the point of view of the latest ideas about autoimmune allergies (allergy conditions, the main cause of which is the increased sensitivity of the body to some components of its own tissues), according to which, in a number of infectious non-infectious diseases, the formation of specific protein compounds of tissue autoantigens and corresponding , autoantibodies, due to which the allergic state is constantly maintained - autoallergy.

3. Endocrine factor. Dysfunction of the endocrine glands can be the cause of so-called endocrine arthritis (for example, acromegalic arthropathy, diabetic arthropathy, etc.), which must be treated by an endocrinologist. At present, the role of endocrine disorders (mainly dysfunctions of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex systems) is considered from a broader perspective - the so-called Selye adaptation theory. According to this theory, some diseases of the joints, such as rheumatism and infectious non-specific polyarthritis, arise due to a violation of the hormonal regulation of homeostasis, the relative dynamic constancy of the internal environment and the stability of the main physiological functions of the body, or due to an inadequate response of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex, which produces hormones. , regulating the adaptation of the body, or due to inadequate, that is, inappropriate, the degree of influence of the tissue response to these hormones. Clinical confirmation of this is the frequent occurrence of joint diseases in women during menopause, when a radical hormonal restructuring of the female body occurs due to ovarian hypofunction, that is, the extinction of their reproductive functions. During this period, women are most susceptible to joint diseases, both infectious (rheumatoid arthritis) and dystrophic (metabolic-dystrophic or menopausal arthritis, Heberden's nodules, deforming spondylosis, etc.).
Thus, much points to the undoubted role of endocrine disorders in the development of joint diseases.

4. Nervous factor. Diseases nervous system are a direct cause of the development of certain joint diseases. Functional disorders of the nervous system, especially its autonomic division, also play a large role in the development and course of various joint diseases. In the clinical picture of many diseases of the joints, such signs as the symmetry of joint damage, trophic disorders - the nutrition of muscles, bones, skin, impaired sweating, vascular tone, etc., clearly appear, indicating the involvement of the nervous system. The participation of neurotrophic influences is especially pronounced in rheumatism and infectarthritis. It is assumed that the antigen emanating from the focus of chronic infection, in addition to affecting the connective tissue, affects the Central nervous system. This leads to dysregulation of immunogenesis, in other words, the process of formation of immunity, protein metabolism and enzymatic processes and creates a background conducive to the development of the disease.

5. Vascular factor plays a role in the development of many joint diseases of both infectious and dystrophic origin. It has been established that the vascular wall is the main arena for the development of the pathological process in rheumatism and infectious nonspecific polyarthritis. It is known that the violation of its permeability is one of the main links in the development of the inflammatory process in the joint. Organic damage to blood vessels in rheumatism and infectious arthritis explains the damage to internal organs observed in these diseases. Violation of circulation in arterioles and capillaries is also important in the development of some degenerative diseases of the joints. Violation of capillary circulation is the cause of inferiority of trophism (nutrition) of cartilage and bone and provokes degeneration of cartilage and scleroepiphyses.

6. Violation of metabolism and enzymatic processes, probably plays the most important role, but is the least studied.
Only the significance of uric acid metabolism disorders in the development of gouty arthritis is well known. However, when
other types of dystrophic lesions usually fail to detect violations of protein, lipid, mineral or carbohydrate metabolism.

The role of mechanical damage to the joint for the development of both arthritis and arthrosis is beyond doubt. In inflammatory arthritis, acute trauma can contribute to the development of the disease or its exacerbation. Chronic micro-traumatization of the joints is the cause of the development of occupational arthritis. In degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the joints, the mechanical factor as the cause of the development of the disease is also currently of great importance. It is believed that the development of deforming osteoarthritis is associated with functional overload of the joint and the summation of multiple microtraumas that cause premature wear of the articular cartilage. Experimental arthrosis was obtained by injuring the articular surfaces of experimental animals for a long time. The spread of arthrosis among people of various professions has been established, tailors and knitters have predominantly arthrosis of the fingers, loaders and workers of heavy physical labor - arthrosis of the spine, workers with a pneumatic hammer - arthrosis of the elbow joint, etc. The development of arthrosis in obesity is also considered from the point of view of increasing stress on the joints. Violation of the normal ratio of articular surfaces and their mobility (for example, due to congenital dislocations or subluxations of the hip, intra- or periarticular fractures, chronic inflammatory processes, etc.) cause permanent injury to the articular surfaces, which leads to the development of arthrosis.
Thus, if in some forms of joint diseases, trauma plays only a provoking role, then in others, mainly dystrophic, it can be considered one of the main causes of the disease.

8. Heredity. There are no hereditary diseases of the joints, however, the significance of hereditary predisposition in some forms of arthritis has been established. Thus, rheumatoid arthritis occurs in relatives of patients with this disease 2-3 times more often than in other population groups. The same is observed in relation to rheumatism and some other arthritis and arthrosis. The significance of heredity in diseases of the joints is currently understood not as a direct transmission of the disease to offspring, but as the inheritance of the characteristics of general and tissue reactivity that predisposes to joint disease. For "family" diseases of the joints, it is also important that one family is in the same conditions of climate, life, nutrition, favorable for the development of the disease.

9. Other factors. Floor. Both sexes are equally susceptible to joint diseases, but with different localization of the process: in men, a disease of the spine is more common, in women - a disease of peripheral joints. In some forms of arthritis, for example, in infectious nonspecific polyarthritis, there is a predominant incidence of women, with gouty arthritis - in men.
Cold and dampness are also known as provoking factors for joint diseases and their exacerbations, although the mechanism of the pathogenetic action of these factors is still unknown. A study of the epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis in Sweden showed that this disease in coastal areas (near the sea) occurs 2 times more often than inland.
The nutritional factor in most cases is not of decisive importance for the development of joint diseases. However, if the metabolic processes are disturbed, the nature of the patient's diet can contribute to a further disruption of metabolism and, thus, the development of metabolic arthritis.
For example, ingestion of purine-containing animal protein products in large quantities by patients with impaired uric acid metabolism can cause an attack of gout. Prolonged insufficient content of vitamin C in food leads to the development of scurvy, one of the manifestations of which is hemarthrosis. With a diet that promotes the development of obesity, as a result of an increase in body weight, and consequently, a mechanical load on the joints, the manifestations of deforming osteoarthritis increase.
Based on the above data, it can be concluded that joint diseases can be caused by many factors of the external and internal environment. Moreover, apparently, joint disease almost always develops under the influence of the total effect of several factors (for example, infection in combination with cooling and hereditary predisposition).

Prevention and treatment

2. Allergic manifestations. With allergic manifestations, it is necessary to seriously examine and identify the cause. In addition to the main treatment, you should cleanse your body with colloidal Detox- a unique and balanced combination of medicinal herbs, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, immunocorrectors, macro- and microelements, antioxidants necessary for a comprehensive and effective cleansing of the body with a prolonged action, increasing the efficiency of detoxification organs (primarily the liver and intestines), and as well as complex support for the functioning of the organs of the hepatobiliary system - the gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas. It is no secret that many diseases are provoked by the penetration of a large amount of toxic substances, Antioxidant The drug cleanses the cells and body fluids (blood and lymph) from toxic free radicals and thereby increases the level of health, prolongs youth.

3. Endocrine factor. You should start supporting your body as soon as possible in case of endocrine disorders. For both women and men, it is very important to have a normal hormonal background and a healthy thyroid gland. To help your body, you need to drink a course of phyto-formulas from time to time. Fimail Active- for women. Effectively eliminates the manifestations of menopause: hot flashes, sweating, palpitations, anxiety or depression. Helps normalize the menstrual cycle. Eliminates discomfort during menstruation: eliminates pain in the lower abdomen and in the lumbar region, normalizes mood. Stimulates female libido - sexual desire. Improves the condition of skin, hair, nails.

Mail Active- for men, designed specifically to

restore men's health, increase sexual function and correct hormonal balance in general, have a beneficial effect on the prostate gland, prevent vascular crises, naturally activates and balances the hormonal system, increases libido. For thyroid health Thyreo Support- For the correction of hormonal disorders associated with dysfunction of the thyroid gland (including "female" diseases - mastopathy, fibroids). In order to correct all types of metabolism (fats, proteins and carbohydrates). To enhance mental activity and increase physical activity. In order to stop iodine deficiency in the diet. With hypofunction of the thyroid gland (subclinical hypothyroidism, the development of goiter - diffuse, and then nodular, an increase in the size of the thyroid gland). Also for diabetics Sugar Balance- Contributes to the normalization at the same time of all links in the development and formation of diabetic disease. Creates persistent compensatory phenomena that help the body cope with the disease. It is effective in the “pre-illness” stage, is able to stop and stimulate the regression of diabetic disease at the initial stage. It is not a synthetic drug, while it has a proven hypoglycemic effect. The colloidal form of the solution provides for guaranteed absorption of healing substances by the cells of the body. Supports the vital activity of pancreatic cells.

4. Nervous system. Be sure to monitor sleep and wakefulness. Normalization of biorhythms Sleep Control- normalization of sleep disorders of various nature, neurological diseases - Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, etc., atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, osteoporosis, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, decreased performance and emotional background, mood swings, to maintain active longevity with signs of a decrease in functional body activity.

Mental Comfort- effectively eliminates feelings of anxiety or depression; contributes to the normalization of sleep; increases efficiency; normalizes mood; returns a feeling of freshness; contributes to the improvement of the condition in cardio-neurotic disorder; eliminates headaches; reduces the toxic effects of alcohol; normalizes appetite, contributes to the normalization of body weight. chronic stress and acute stressful situations; conditions accompanied by increased excitability, emotional instability: neuroses, vegetative-vascular dystonia, consequences of neuroinfections.

5. vascular factor. Support the vascular system Antioxidant, and treat AngiOmega- Atherosclerosis of various localization, various manifestations of atherosclerosis atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels, manifested by coronary heart disease (pain, discomfort in the region of the heart); atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels (decrease in memory, attention, forgetfulness); atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities (chillness of the legs, pain, discomfort in the legs, especially when moving). Hereditary predisposition to cardiovascular diseases (close relatives, parents suffer from atherosclerosis, or high blood pressure.

6. Violation of metabolism and enzymatic processes. Metabolic disorders are a very common cause of joint disease. The gastrointestinal tract is the main system for the delivery of vitamins and minerals for healthy joints and cartilage.

Gastero Complex is recommended for enriching the diet with biologically active substances for prevention and as a component of complex therapy for the following conditions and diseases:

acute and chronic gastritis, gastroduodenitis, including erosive gastritis and duodenitis, atrophic gastritis:

peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;

acute and chronic stress and overwork, with a tendency to ulceration;

irritable stomach and intestines syndrome and other functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;

during the period of recovery and rehabilitation.

7. Mechanical factor. Support for the musculoskeletal system is essential at any age.

Artro Complex- effectively eliminates joint pain, normalizes motor activity in the joints, increases endurance during physical exertion due to the impact on all components of the joints, helps restore articular cartilage, including intervertebral discs, increases its elasticity, firmness, resistance to mechanical stress, improves quality interarticular fluid, which facilitates the movement of articular surfaces relative to each other, facilitates mobility in the joint, strengthens the soft tissues of the joint (ligaments and muscles), thereby contributing to the creation of a tendon-muscle corset.

Osteo Complex- phytoformula for the restoration and strengthening of bone tissue. Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and impaired quality and mineral balance of bone tissue, leading to increased bone fragility and an increased risk of fractures. Most often, osteoporosis affects women, especially older ones. AD Medicine has developed a colloidal phyto-formula specifically designed to restore, strengthen and support the functioning of bone tissue.

back pain health joints

Arthritis of the joints- a pathological condition with a multifaceted course of the course, very mysterious, because inflammation can start even without an obvious reason.

Sometimes the disease is gaining momentum with lightning speed, and then, suddenly, suddenly disappears.

On the other hand, there is a diametrically opposite scenario, when the disease proceeds without obvious pain, but the time interval stretches for many years.

Fundamentally, arthritis refers to numerous joint problems, with fairly identical symptoms. However, initially, it is still an inflammatory process that originated in the joint for various reasons.

Signs of arthritis

The origin, and the likely further development of the disease, can be primarily judged by the presence of very significant pain, as well as excessive stiffness in the joints. As a rule, an increase in such problems is observed in the morning hours.

In acute forms of the disease, for example, purulent, extremely powerful, aching pains occur. The diseased joint is very swollen, becomes reddish. If joint problems are observed on a chronic basis, then there is a possibility of the absence of this symptomatology, but articular hyperthermia declares itself quite clearly when the joints become very “hot” to the touch.

Causes of the disease

A very “popular” reason for the development of arthritis can be considered a genetic predisposition. The likelihood of developing the disease increases significantly, provided that one of your close relatives has been diagnosed with arthritis. Sooner or later, the disease will declare itself, and believe me, you will immediately “hear” it.

In addition, the list of other factors provoking the onset of the disease includes:

• problems with immunity, and in some cases not only its decrease, but, on the contrary, excessive overestimation
• weakness of the musculoskeletal system
• various injuries
• allergic reactions
• psoriasis
• infectious diseases
• hypermobility
• hip dysplasia

Hence the conclusion - in the presence of the above problems, a systematic consultation with a doctor is necessary. Age and probability of occurrence have a direct interdependence.

Types of arthritis

Several key forms of this disease are classified, let's talk about each in more detail.

1. Reactive arthritis, perhaps the most common type, is the result of a previous infectious problem. The list is quite extensive:

• urological
• intestinal
• giardiasis, helminthiasis
• rubella

In principle, almost any infection can serve as a basis for the development of reactive arthritis.

However, it is very important to understand here that it is not microbes that provoke the disease.

I think it's worth explaining a bit. A similar disease belongs to the group of autoimmune diseases. In other words, the reaction of the immune system to external stimuli turns out to be incorrect, or excessively excessive. For example, an infection in the body is defeated, recovery has begun, and “immune wars” continue, and completely healthy cells fall under the hot hand.

Women, especially young women, are more susceptible to this disease. Hospitalization is required in extremely rare cases. At the same time, the swelling of the joints is insignificant, the temperature above the site of inflammation is slightly increased, pain is weak.

The therapeutic process proceeds quite easily, in the vast majority of cases limited to a few months.

At the end, the shape and size of the joints acquire their original, normal parameters, the functionality is restored.

Unfortunately, this species is characterized by fairly frequent relapses. Another infectious lesion or simply hypothermia of the body can provoke an exacerbation.

2. Now let's talk about rheumatoid arthritis - an autoimmune chronic articular pathology, in which inflammation affects the synovial membrane of the joints. Smaller joints, such as the hands, fingers, and wrists, are the first to be hit. The symptoms of this form of arthritis are characterized by distinct inflammation, pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints.

In addition, inflammation can give a starting impetus to activate the processes of bone erosion and cartilage destruction. The exact causes of the occurrence of the rheumatoid form of the disease have not yet been identified, however, the development of the disease is observed with significant violations the functionality of the immune system.

3. Now it's the turn of perhaps the most dangerous type - juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. A sad distinguishing feature is the rapid destruction of the joint. Pronounced deformation changes can manifest themselves in a patient in just a few months.

In this situation, timely treatment is of the utmost importance. The danger of inflammation is extremely high, because sometimes, even with qualified treatment started on time, a good result cannot be achieved. Articular flexibility suffers significantly.

Another negative detail is that the disease comes on a wide front, many organs are affected. For example, prerequisites are created for the occurrence of inflammation of the heart muscle, pneumonia.

Among the standard signs in the juvenile form of the disease include:

• increase in body temperature
• growth in the size of the liver, spleen
• the appearance of a rash

There are situations when pathological lesions of internal organs come to the fore, and pain in the joint is minimal, practically does not bother the patient.

The most severe cases involve simultaneous numerous inflammations of the joints and painful changes in the internal organs.

4. We move on, and the next one is the allergic form of the disease. The occurrence is due to hypersensitivity to the allergen, which is most often taken medicinal product. Troubles can begin almost immediately after repeated administration of the drug. Basically, large joints suffer.

In addition, with an allergic reaction to the medications used, other symptoms may appear:

• edema occurs
• nausea and vomiting
• rash, blisters appear on the skin

After the withdrawal of the allergenic drug, as a rule, the symptomatic manifestations of the disease gradually lose their strength.

5. Traumatic arthritis - the main cause is considered to be a harmful effect on the joint, which can be attributed to a closed injury.

The risk group is the elbow, knee, shoulder joints. A severe bruise, rupture of the articular bag, can lead to the unimpeded penetration of pathogens that cause inflammation, purulent processes.

With serious damage, bleeding inevitably occurs, the joint becomes a place of excessive accumulation of synovial fluid, swells, swells. Excess is removed from the articular bag by means of a syringe.

6. Purulent variety - actively declares itself when the infection penetrates the joint, and its pathogen begins to multiply rapidly there. The gate inward, as a rule, opens sepsis or some kind of trauma. The knee, shoulder, and hip joints are most commonly affected.

The articular cavity becomes a reservoir for purulent accumulations. The victim has a high temperature, constant headaches, intoxication of the body. The swelling is very strong, the joint acquires a reddish tint. Severe pain occurs even with the slightest movement.

During treatment, antibiotics are prescribed, and surgical intervention is possible to remove pus.
7. There are plenty of reasons for the occurrence of a dystrophic form of arthritis, for example, unsatisfactory working conditions.

Also, to provoke dystrophic phenomena in the joint can be repeated exposure to the body of cold, sharp temperature fluctuations. Risk group - fishermen, sailors, hot shop workers, street vendors.

Insidiousness lies in the gradual, imperceptible occurrence. Initially, the swelling is very slight, only in those areas that are subject to maximum overload, hypothermia. Further, minor pain during movement is added to the chain of troubles.

In the course of the development of the disease, the joint becomes stiff, however, there are practically no strong deformation changes. This fact is explained as follows: the pathological process basically does not concern cartilage, bones, but mainly proceeds in the surrounding tissues. The temperature is at acceptable levels, blood counts are without significant changes.

High-quality rest, change of profession, lead to the elimination of painful phenomena, physical activity is restored.

8. Ankylosing arthritis - severe pain, stiffness, joint deformity. First, problems begin on the hands, affecting the interphalangeal joints of the fingers. After that, the coverage expands, and the wrists, elbows, shoulders are in the affected area.

The blood supply to the affected tissues, due to inflammatory processes in the synovial membrane, is drastically disrupted. Its replacement with connective tissue is observed, the joint capsule “wrinkles”, scars appear. The muscles surrounding the articular bag become weaker, thinner.

For a long time, bones and cartilage remain aloof from the pathological process, but then, they are still overtaken by the destructive power of arthritis.

9. Finally, the last on the list is the psoriatic form, which is the most severe complication of psoriasis. In essence, this type of joint arthritis is a combination of two diseases, which are called rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. The disease is difficult to diagnose, because for many, it can occur without pronounced painful manifestations.

With this form of arthritis, the inflammatory process "worries" the joint for many years, often leading to disability, because the destruction is slow, gradual.

A timely prescribed course of treatment significantly increases the chances of preserving the articular functionality in the proper form.

The possibility of prolonging active years of life increases.

Since the mechanism of the emergence of this type is not sufficiently studied, then, unfortunately, it is not possible to achieve final deliverance at this point in time.

When to See a Doctor

A few days, this is the period at the end of which, in the absence of positive dynamics, you should visit a rheumatologist. You will definitely be prescribed an x-ray, because swelling, pain - the symptoms are very multifaceted, characteristic of many diseases.

Not always, with pain in the joint, inflammatory phenomena are observed in it. For example, sometimes severe pain in the knee, and the true danger lies in wait for the hip joint.

In addition, you should pass an extensive list of tests: blood, urine, feces. MRI, computed tomography, are also on the list of possible medical appointments. They can be referred to an ophthalmologist, because Bechterew's disease is a systemic autoimmune disease that can be triggered by inflammation in the choroid of the eye.

If possible, it is better to undergo an examination in stationary conditions. The standard course takes about a week + two more for the upcoming therapy.

Arthritis treatment

One of the main medical prescriptions are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The standard time interval for admission takes a month and a half, so after discharge, for some time, patients need to recover on their own. It is important to remember that the chances of recovery will increase only if the drugs are taken for a long time.

If you ignore medical recommendations, then the effectiveness, of course, will be present, but then frequent relapses may occur, and arthritis will become chronic. Again, the disease can return even after many years (30 years). Unfortunately, it is impossible to say exactly what causes the disease to become chronic.

Doctors make only a forecast, according to the nature of the further course of the disease. If the face shows signs of the disease flowing into the chronic stage, then the doctor prescribes immunosuppressive drugs that have a powerful inhibitory effect for overly aggressive immunity.

In chronic arthritis, downward adjustment of medicinal doses is acceptable after a five-year period of permanent remission. In other words, when taking medications, there should be no signs of the disease. Only after five years, it can be carefully stated that the recovery process is on the right track, the number of medications taken is reduced.

For a traumatic type of arthritis, initially, therapeutic actions are reduced to the proper application of a bandage in order to prevent more damage to the joint. Further treatment is quite standard - anti-inflammatory, if necessary, antibiotics, the full use of physiotherapy.

The treatment process for reactive arthritis is also complex. Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antihistamines - these are the main drugs for a standard course of treatment, usually lasting about ten days.

With excessive immunity, drugs called biological agents are used.

Arthritis prevention

In order to minimize the possibility of repeated relapses, simple recommendations should be followed.

If you are a follower water procedures, then their use should be carried out with great care, since they are based on some hypothermia, and this has a very detrimental effect on inflamed joints.

It is strongly not recommended to swim in open water, sunbathe, because under the influence of sunlight, immunodeficiency increases. Penetration into the body of a common viral infection will be quite a sufficient factor for exacerbating arthritis. Hypothermia is prohibited (hardening will have to wait).

If the remission period is more than six months, then moderate sports and dancing are quite acceptable. Otherwise, in the presence of inflammation, limitation of joint mobility, physical activity should be moderate.

Tangible help for patients with a diagnosis arthritis of the joints are able to provide qualified massage procedures, as well as therapeutic exercises. As for physiotherapy, their use at the acute stage of the disease is not welcome, since it can only seriously aggravate the inflammatory process.

When a period of stable remission comes, it is worth using a wide range of possibilities of this type of therapy, for example, electrophoresis, paraffin applications, magnetotherapy, light therapy.

Take an interest in your health in time, goodbye.

Causes of Arthritis

Arthritis Symptoms Arthritis Treatment Arthrosis Arthrosis Causes Arthrosis Symptoms Arthrosis Treatment Arthrosis Treatment

Arthritis and arthrosis, in fact, are very similar in symptoms to pathologies of the joints, accompanied by soreness and limitation of movements, but the basis of arthritis is inflammation, and arthrosis is the destruction of the joint. These are not diagnoses, this is a consequence of any disease. The diagnosis is based on the cause of this joint condition, such as reactive arthritis (inflammation of the joint in response to an infection in another organ) or osteoarthritis.

Joint diseases are usually divided into inflammatory - this is arthritis, non-inflammatory - this is arthrosis, and joint pain due to tumors and other disorders - arthralgia.

Arthritis

Arthritis It is customary to call any inflammation of the joint (the name “arthritis” comes from the Greek word arthron, which means “joint”, the ending IT in medicine means inflammation). Arthritis can have a traumatic, infectious and dystrophic origin.

The defeat of one (arthritis) or several joints (polyarthritis) is a symptom of other diseases. Arthritis often occurs with repeated minor injuries, open or closed injuries of the joints. Arthritis can develop with frequent physical overexertion and hypothermia. Various infections (for example, intestinal or urinary) can also cause arthritis, called reactive. There is also rheumatoid arthritis, in which there is a progressive inflammation of several joints (most often small), while the limbs are affected symmetrically. It often affects older people. Arthritis can also be caused by a metabolic disorder.

Arthritis in its various forms can be characterized by different combinations of symptoms. Arthritis usually causes swelling and pain in the affected joints. In the initial stages of the disease, pain can occur both during movement and physical exertion, and at certain times of the day (for example, at night or in the form of morning stiffness). If arthritis becomes chronic, the pain can become permanent. In addition, the inflamed joint usually turns red, swells and even deforms, its work is disturbed, in severe cases of arthritis - to complete immobility.

Causes of arthritis

Causes of arthritis: bacterial, viral or fungal infection, trauma, allergies, metabolic disorders, diseases of the nervous system, lack of vitamins. Usually, the penetration of infection into the joints occurs through the circulatory system from another part of the body, this can occur with trauma, surgery, or a general decrease in immunity.

Types of arthritis

Arthritis includes:

- infectious arthritis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- gout
- reactive arthritis

All of them are associated with inflammation of the synovial membrane - a thin film of connective tissue lining the joint from the inside.

Degenerative arthritis refers to traumatic arthritis, it is associated with damage to the articular cartilage that covers the ends of the bones at the point of their articulation.

arthritis symptoms

Arthritis is characterized by pain in the joint, especially when moving, often there are restrictions on its mobility, swelling, change in shape, sometimes the skin over the joint turns red and fever appears.

Symptoms of infectious arthritis are redness, swelling of the joint, a feeling of pain when pressed, the joint may be hot to the touch, common symptoms of an infectious disease are often observed - fever, chills, pain throughout the body.

There are arthritis of one joint (monoarthritis) and many (polyarthritis).

Arthritis can start suddenly and be accompanied by severe joint pain (acute arthritis) or develop gradually (chronic arthritis). Some people have a sharp aching or dull pain. This pain is comparable to toothache. Movement in this joint is usually impaired, stiffness is observed.

Arthritis treatment

Treatment for arthritis depends on the form of the disease. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate its main cause (infection, excessive exercise, malnutrition, alcohol abuse).

Treatment of arthritis involves primarily antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, often administered intra-articularly. When treating arthritis, specialists also pay great attention to physiotherapeutic procedures and therapeutic exercises, which are necessary to maintain joint mobility and preserve muscle mass.

Read more about the causes, symptoms and treatment of arthritis in the article Arthritis - Inflammation of the Joints >>

Arthrosis

What is the difference between arthrosis and arthritis?

Arthrosis - a chronic disease of the joints of an exchange nature, accompanied by changes in the articulating surfaces of the bones. The more correct name for osteoarthritis is osteoarthritis.

The main symptoms of arthrosis are: severe pain in the joint, decreased joint mobility. In the case of neglect of arthrosis, joint immobility occurs.

The main difference between arthrosis and arthritis: in arthrosis, the main destructive activity is performed not by inflammatory, but by degenerative processes in the articular cartilage, the cartilage is destroyed.

Arthrosis is not inflammatory disease and therefore has nothing to do with arthritis or chronic polyarthritis, in which inflammation of the joint is based on a reactive pathological change in the joint fluid. The same can be said about acute arthritis - inflammation of the joints caused by various infectious agents.

The characteristic symptoms of arthrosis are pain during exertion, subsiding at rest, limited mobility and crunching in the joint, muscle tension in the joint area, occasional swelling, and gradual deformation of the joint. But at the same time, unlike arthritis, there is no redness of the joint, it is not hot to the touch.

Unlike arthritis, arthrosis is a disease of the joints, primarily accompanied by the destruction of cartilage, and inflammation occurs later and may not be permanent.

In the initial stages, arthrosis manifests itself in the form of discomfort and crunching when bending the joints. When arthrosis begins to progress, pain appears during movement, physical exertion, which increases by the end of the day (it usually subsides overnight, and a person suffering from arthrosis may not pay attention to the disease for a long time). In the later stages of arthrosis, joint mobility is completely impaired, and pain torments a person more and more often.

Arthrosis is very dangerous, and if degenerative tissue changes have gone too far, the doctor will not be able to restore the joint. Usually it is only possible to slow the progression of the disease, relieve inflammation (through the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and reduce pain. So that arthrosis does not lead to disability, the patient should try to reduce the load on the affected joint and get rid of excess weight, which is facilitated by physiotherapy exercises and physiotherapy procedures. Severe osteoarthritis may require surgery.

Causes of arthrosis

Arthrosis causes pathological changes in the articular tissues, and the causes of the disease are still not fully understood. Osteoarthritis develops under the influence of various genetic (arthritis is more common in women, as well as people with congenital diseases of the bones and joints) and acquired (old age, overweight, previous surgery on the joints) factors. Arthrosis can also occur as a result of excessive stress on the joints or their injuries. It is customary to distinguish between primary and secondary arthrosis. Primary arthrosis is the result of a violation of the processes of regeneration of cartilage cells, which can occur due to poor blood supply and nutrition of the tissues of the joint. It is believed that secondary arthrosis develops in an already affected joint, but it is difficult to draw a clear line between these two forms.

Arthrosis can occur as a result of intoxication, infectious diseases (for example, typhus, syphilis, etc.). Also, arthrosis can occur with joint injuries (fracture of the articular ends of bones, damage to articular cartilage), with significant functional overload of the joint (for example, in ballet dancers, loaders and etc.). Occupational stresses are of known importance (for example, arthrosis among workers in hot shops).

Classification of arthrosis

Primary arthrosis - accounts for approximately 40-50% of all cases of arthrosis. In this case, the disease occurs on a previously healthy joint, and its cause is not damage to the joint, but, for example, hard physical work.

Secondary arthrosis - is approximately 50-60% of cases. In this case, the joint subject to arthrosis was deformed even before the disease - for example, as a result of an injury.

Osteoarthritis affects 10 to 15% of the world's population. With age, the risk of arthrosis increases significantly. Often the symptoms of arthrosis are detected already in 30-40 years. 27% of people over 50 suffer from arthrosis. And after 60 years, almost everyone suffers from this disease. The incidence of arthrosis is the same among men and women. An exception is arthrosis of the interphalangeal joints - this type of arthrosis occurs most often in women.

Most often, arthrosis is a destructive change in cartilage and bone tissue that occurs with age as a result of natural aging. Eloquent and statistics. Upon reaching 60-70 years of age, arthrosis is diagnosed in 60-70% of people. The words "arthrosis" and arthritis are only phonetically similar, but the causes may be different, respectively, and the treatment too.

When highlighting the differences between arthrosis and arthritis, it is important to recognize the different direction in which the destructive and deforming process takes place. If you have arthrosis, then the metabolism in the joint is disturbed, its elasticity is lost, the cartilage becomes thinner and every movement causes pain. If you have arthritis, then germs or even your own immune system take over the joint, your body works against its tissue and this causes inflammation, pain and deforming changes. Understanding this is important because it determines the treatment. While arthritis will suppress infection or autoimmune processes, mechanical repair of the joint is the main goal for the treatment of patients with arthrosis.

The first blow is taken by the knee joints, joints of the elbows, hands. Thus, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is the most common. Over time, deforming arthrosis occurs, the joints begin to deform, due to curvature, the affected areas can take on bizarre shapes. There are, in particular, such terms as "swan neck", "button loop". If a person has deforming arthrosis and fingers are affected, then outwardly they can become shorter.

Deforming arthrosis is a disease of our time, a sedentary lifestyle has led us to it. By nature, we were destined to live differently, but by automating the processes, a person “earned” a lot of sores with which people pay for all the benefits received. Deforming arthrosis affects, as a rule, the supporting joints. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is understandable, because its peculiarity, unlike other joints, is in the large loads that it bears. Nature did not take much care of feeding such overworked places. And since the cartilage of the knee joint does not have its own vessels, as a result of aging or under the influence of infections or injuries, it can atrophy.

What joints are affected by arthritis?

The most common diseases are arthrosis of the joints of the lower half of the body (hip, knee, first metatarsophalangeal). Most often, osteoarthritis affects the knee (gonarthrosis) and hip (coxarthrosis) joints. One of the most early symptoms arthrosis is pain in the knee joints. At the beginning of the disease at rest, it is practically absent, but appears with a load on the joint. In osteoarthritis of the knee joints, massage of the lower extremities can be useful, but direct exposure to the diseased joint should be avoided, as this can increase the inflammatory reaction in it.

On the hands, the joints of the phalanges of the fingers are most often affected by arthrosis. Arthrosis usually occurs first on one joint, and then on the second - symmetrical to the first.

Arthrosis of the spine

Ankylosing spondyloarthrosis (Bekhterev's disease) leads to a limitation of the motor capabilities of the spine due to the connection, i.e. accretion, some joints.

The results of the X-ray examination reveal that the spine, prone to arthrosis, looks like a bamboo stick.

There are five forms of osteoarthritis of the spine:

1. Central - only the spine is affected by arthrosis
2. Defeat by arthrosis not only of the spine, but also of the shoulder or hip joints.
3. Peripheral - arthrosis affects the spine and peripheral joints
4. Scandinavian - arthrosis damage occurs in the spine and small joints of the hands and feet
5. Ankylosing spondylitis with extra-articular manifestations: damage to the eyes, cardiovascular system, kidneys, lungs in the form of fibrosis.

An assessment of how arthrosis damaged the spine, more precisely, how much it limited mobility, is made by the following tests:

• It is necessary to tilt the body forward to the maximum distance without bending the knees. The distance to the floor in the absence of arthrosis is within 5 millimeters.
• It is necessary to stand with your back to the wall and press against it with your heels, buttocks and the back of your head. Most often, patients with arthrosis cannot touch the back of the head.
• It is necessary to stand up straight, without twisting the spine, and then try to reach the shoulder joint with your ear.

Patients with arthrosis cannot do this.

Symptoms of arthrosis

The disease is based on malnutrition of the articular (epiphyseal) ends of the bones. Due to a change in the patency or damage to the vessels supplying the bone, aseptic necrosis occurs, exacerbating the lesions in the joint. Arthrosis is progressive. Initially, painful changes appear in the inner (so-called synovial) membrane of the articular bag, then they capture the cartilage that covers the articular surfaces of the articulating bones; cartilage is gradually destroyed, exposing the bone; bone tissue is rarefied in places, thickened in places, bone spike-like outgrowths - osteophytes are formed, a picture of deforming arthrosis develops. Osteophytes can break off and then arthrosis is accompanied by arthritis - inflammation of the joint.

More often arthrosis develops in the hip, knee and first metatarsophalangeal joints. Osteoarthritis usually affects middle-aged and elderly people. Arthrosis is manifested by pains that appear gradually, occur periodically, worsen after sudden physical exertion or, conversely, after a long state of rest. Due to pain, mobility in the joint is limited. Arthrosis is accompanied by inflammation of the tissues surrounding the joint and nerve trunks, the function of the joint also suffers due to protective muscle tension.

Treatment of arthrosis

Treatment of arthrosis - outpatient and in sanatorium-resort conditions. Assign painkillers, hormonal drugs (adrenocorticotropic series), physiotherapy (thermal procedures, ultrasound), therapeutic exercises, massage. In severe cases, for the treatment of arthrosis, they resort to a surgical operation (arthrodesis, arthroplasty).

If the process of cartilage wear has not yet gone too far, preparations containing glucosamine sulfate, a natural substance obtained from the shells of marine animals, help. It has a positive effect on cartilage metabolism and improves joint mobility.

Read more about the causes, symptoms and treatment of arthrosis in the article Arthrosis (Osteoarthritis) >>