INTRODUCTION- The knee is the largest joint in the body.The knee supports whole of the body weight.It is vulnerable to both acute injuries and development of osteoarthritis.
DEFINITION- Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition which primarily effects the cartialge of the joint.(cartilage is present between the joint.cartilage act as a cushion in the joints.)Due to overstress or degenerative process with age,it losses strength,which we call osteoarthritis.
CAUSES- Age of the patient is an important cause.
- Any injury around the joint few year back.
- Overstress on the knees.
- Wrong position of the knees.(like squatting)
- Obesity
SYMPTOMS- The continous pain is the primary symptom.- pain while walking
- while getting up.
- while touching the knee.
-Swelling is another symptom.
-Crepitus i.e a click sound while moving the knee.
-Deformity will be present after some years.
PRINCIPLE OF TREATMENT- If this occur once, it cannot cure with medicine.Prevention is the best method to prevent the further damage to the joint.
- The symptoms like pain and swelling can be best treated by equipments in physiotherapy like TENS and ULTRASOUND.
-To pervent further weakness and maintainance of the strength of knee, exercises are the best option.The exercise regimen is given below in detail-
Strenghtning of knee muscles- 1)Roll a towel and place it under your knee.Now press it for 5sec.Repeat it for 10times.Progresively increase the time of hold to 10 sec.
2)-Sit at the edge of the bed or chair.Now straighten your knee.Hold it for 5 sec and then relax it.repeat it for 10 times.The patient can use wieght also to make it more vigrous.
3)- The patient shoul lie on the bed and raise his leg straight.Then hold this position for 5 sec and then place it relax on bed.To make it more vigrous increase the hold time to 10 sec.
ALL THESE EXERCISES SHOULD BE DONE 3-4 TIMES PER DAY.
-THESE EXERCISES ARE PROOVED BEST FOR THE OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE JOINT.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR AN ARTHRITIC KNEE- If it is diagnosed that the person is having osteoarthritic knee,then these preventive measures should must be adopted-
-Avoid sqautting and sitting with cross legs.
-Avoid using indian toilet seats.
-Avoid unnecesseray bending,standing and walking.
-Avoid sitting on knees.
-Avoid unsupported climbing and getting up.
-Avoid carrying heavy objects.
-Avoid running.
-If patient is overweight or obese then he/she should loose his weight.It will help prventing overstress on the knees.
-Patient shoul have good hygienic food.
-If patient is very old he/she should use stick while walking,so that stress on the knees should be decreased.
-Never forget to do exercises mentioned above.
