What is knee arthritis? class="ez-toc-section-end">
Knee arthritis is a condition that leads to destruction of the cartilage between the knee joints. Knee cartilage is an important part of the knee structure that acts like a soft cushion. The knee cartilage has the function of reducing pressure and impact and prevents the friction of the knee bones. In this disease, the knee cartilage is affected by inflammatory processes and stress changes, and this causes a decrease in the quality and destruction of the knee cartilage. When the cartilage of the knee is destroyed, the bones of the knee joint will rub against each other and press against each other.
Knee osteoarthritis is called Knee osteoarthritis in English and is one of the common problems among men and women. Many people think that only elderly people suffer from knee arthritis; But you should know that the incidence rate of this problem is also high for young people in the society, and it is possible that a person will be exposed to knee arthritis and destruction of knee cartilage after events such as falling on the ground, severe impact on the knee, and sports injury.
When the cartilage of the knee is destroyed, the person will witness symptoms such as swelling, pain, stiffness in the knee joints and decreased ability to move the knee. In patients with knee arthritis, walking, standing, working, etc. are associated with severe pain. In the following, you will get to know the effective factors in the occurrence of knee arthritis.
factors Effective in knee arthritis
The following are among the main causes of knee arthritis:
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- Growing age: With age, the body's cartilage degrades faster and that is why the possibility of knee pain and back pain in old age is higher.
- Severe excess weight: obesity and excess weight increases the pressure on the knee joints and increases the risk of knee arthritis.
- Hereditary factors: Genetic and hereditary factors play an important role in the occurrence of knee arthritis. If the parents have knee pain, the possibility of passing this problem on to their children is high.
- Sudden injuries: sometimes knee arthritis occurs due to broken bones and knee patella, knee dislocation and sports injuries. Any injury to the knee may destroy the knee cartilage and increase the risk of knee arthritis.
- Lots of going up and down stairs and steep surfaces: Going up and down stairs and steep paths puts more pressure on the knee joints and is likely to make a person suffer from early arthritis.
- Gender: Research shows that women are more affected by knee arthritis than men.
- Putting the knee in the wrong position: If you bend the knee a lot and sit in a position where the knee bends too much, the possibility of knee joint destruction and knee arthritis increases.
- A lot of physical activities: doing a lot of unprincipled physical movements puts a lot of pressure on the joint, which exceeds the tolerance threshold of the joint.
- Joint infection: People with joint infections are more prone to deformity of the knee joints and joint destruction.
- Wearing inappropriate shoes: Wearing inappropriate shoes puts a lot of pressure on the bones of the knee joint and spine, and this issue over time leads to knee arthritis.
If you have symptoms of knee arthritis such as pain, stiffness, swelling, joint inflammation and limitation of knee movement, it is better to see a specialist doctor immediately to suggest the best treatment method.
Among the symptoms of knee arthritis, the following can be mentioned:
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- Pain: The main symptom of knee arthritis is severe pain felt in the knee joint area. When the cartilage of the knee is destroyed, the bones overlap and intra-articular inflammation occurs. At first, the pain appears temporarily and after physical activity and use of the knee; But gradually, the intensity of the pain increases and affects the person even during rest.
- Dryness and restriction of knee movement: Knee arthritis causes stiffness and restriction of knee movement. In this case, the person feels dry when bending and opening the knee, and the range of motion of the knee decreases. This issue has a direct impact on a person's daily activities and happens mostly at the beginning of the morning.
- Knee Swelling: Knee arthritis may lead to knee swelling. This swelling is caused by knee inflammation and fluid accumulation inside the knee joint.
- The sound of crushing and clicking in the knee: After the destruction of the knee joint, the bones rub against each other. Due to the contact of the knee bones, a person hears sounds such as crushing, scratching and clicking when moving. In many cases, it is normal to hear clicking sounds in the knee; But when it is accompanied by knee pain and inflammation, it indicates damage to the knee.
- Weakness of the knee muscles: If the amount of physical activity and mobility of a person decreases due to pain and movement restriction, there is a possibility that the muscles around the knee such as the quadriceps muscle will weaken and show signs of muscle weakness.
- Feeling heat in the knee joint: Destruction of the knee cartilage may be accompanied by a feeling of heat in the knee.
- Dry knee after sitting for a long time: If you feel dry and stiff in your knee after sitting, it is possible that you have knee arthritis.
Sudden and severe pain in the knee is one of the main symptoms of knee arthritis; But a person may also experience other symptoms. Remember that the symptoms of knee arthritis are different in different people.
No one likes to lose strength in their knees and feel severe pain in their knees while moving and walking. Unfortunately, if knee arthritis is not treated, this disease leads to the destruction of the entire knee joint and cartilage.
Types of knee arthritis
In medical science, types of knee arthritis are known that lead to the destruction of knee cartilage; But among the most common types of knee arthritis, the following can be mentioned:
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- Osteoarthritis (arthrosis): The most common type of knee arthritis is osteoarthritis, which causes the cartilages of the knee to wear down and eventually wear the bones together. If the knees are not taken care of, osteoarthritis becomes more severe and knee treatment becomes more difficult.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: This disease is an autoimmune disease that leads to inflammation of the joints. After inflammation of the joints, this stiffness and swelling reaches the synovial membrane and causes the person to experience severe pain and destruction of the cartilages.
- Post-traumatic arthritis: After a car accident, sports injury, and knee injury, the knee cartilage begins to thin and destroy. Finally, the bones of the knee press together and wear out. Knee arthritis may begin years after an injury or accident. This problem is associated with pain, stiffness and limitation in knee movement.
Many people who suffer from knee arthritis are thinking of treating their knee arthritis at home to experience less pain while walking and working.
Prevalence of knee arthritis in women
The probability of knee arthritis in women is higher than in men. Knee arthritis in women occurs due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, menopause, childbirth, excess weight, lack of calcium and iron, incorrect housework style, female body anatomy, stress and wearing high heels.
Arthritis symptoms Knee
Knee arthritis may lead to the following complications, which are very unpleasant and annoying:
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- Sudden and severe pains during physical activity
- Swelling of the knee joint
- Decreased mobility of the knee and difficulty when bending or going up and down stairs
- Changing the shape and size of the knee joint
- Decreasing the flexibility of the knee joint
- Knee instability
- Changing the position of the legs such as tilting the leg and bending the knees
- Body imbalance due to reduced ability of knees
- Abrasion of knee bones and structural changes
- Hearing strange noises while walking and moving the knee
- decreasing the quality of a person's life and bad mood
Due to the serious and dangerous complications of knee arthritis, it is better to see a specialist doctor so that after the doctor's diagnosis, the best treatment method will be prescribed to improve the condition of your knees.
If you want to prevent knee arthritis, keep the following points in mind:
- Fitness and maintaining a healthy weight: As we explained, excess weight puts pressure on the knee joints. To maintain the health of the knees, it is better to reduce your excess weight and have a fit body.
- Regular physical activity: Regular exercise is the best way to strengthen knee muscles. By doing sports such as swimming, cycling, brisk walking and resistance training, strengthen the muscles around the knees and help stabilize the knee joint.
- Rest after a lot of physical activity: If you have had a lot of physical activity or have done heavy sports, be sure to rest and avoid putting more pressure on the knees. By considering rest intervals, you prevent pain and stiffness in the knees and give the knee joint a chance to recover.
- Observe the correct sitting form: The best position for the knees is to sit on a sofa or chair and place the soles of the feet on the floor, which does not put pressure on the knees. To keep your knees healthy, avoid sitting on your knees and sitting on all fours and use the sofa to sit.
- Protection of knees against injury: Take care of your knees when exercising and performing high-pressure activities such as football, tennis, etc., and if necessary, use knee protectors or knee braces.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects: When you lift heavy objects, sudden and high pressure is applied to your spine and knees, which may lead to cartilage and knee joint destruction; For this reason, it is better to avoid doing heavy work so as not to get early arthritis.
- Walking after long sitting: For every hour of sitting and bending the knees, walk for 2-3 minutes to open the knee muscles.
- Doing stretching exercises: By massaging the knee muscles and doing stretching exercises, you will help to increase the flexibility and improve the range of motion of the knees.
- Stress control: anxiety and stress can lead to inflammatory complications and destruction of knee cartilage; For this reason, it is better to manage your stress with the help of meditation, yoga and breathing techniques.
- Treatment of clubfoot: If you are currently dealing with clubfoot, you should treat this problem as soon as possible; Because not treating braced legs leads to knee arthritis.
- Adhering to a healthy lifestyle: To prevent knee arthritis, have a healthy lifestyle. Reduce the risk of knee arthritis by eating healthy foods, wearing appropriate shoes, using toilet facilities and elevators.
The best way is to take good care of the knee joints so as not to get knee arthritis. Sometimes knee arthritis is inevitable and you will be affected by this disease at some point in your life. In this case, you should take effective measures to treat knee arthritis, which you will learn about later.
Arthritis diagnosis method Knee
When knee pain is chronic and long, a person consults a specialist doctor to get rid of this pain and inflammation sooner. To diagnose knee arthritis, the doctor does the following:
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- Physical examination: The specialist doctor first examines the patient's medical history and performs a physical examination to identify the symptoms of knee arthritis.
- Blood test: In many cases, the doctor can diagnose the person's problem according to the patient's blood test. For example, if there are RA antibodies in a person's blood, it indicates that the person has rheumatoid arthritis.
- X-ray imaging of the knee: Viewing detailed images of the knee helps the specialist doctor to check the density of the knee cartilage tissue, the space between the knee bones, the possibility of bone spurs and cysts.
- MRI of the knee: To check the condition of the knee joint and the knee menisci, a specialist doctor recommends an MRI.
- Knee joint fluid analysis: In order to find out the problems of the knee joint and check the possibility of knee arthritis, a specialist doctor takes out the synovial fluid and then analyzes this joint fluid.
By performing these methods, the doctor can better check the condition of the knee and the possibility of knee arthritis.
Treatment of knee arthritis
Today, various treatment methods are performed to improve the knee cartilage and treat knee arthritis, and you can do one or more of the following methods to treat knee arthritis to reduce pain and improve knee function.
The following are among the best methods of treating knee arthritis:
- PRP knee
- ozone therapy
- steroid injection
- Gel injection
- Drug therapy
- Hydrotherapy
- Consumption of food supplements
- Cold and heat therapy
- Using a medical knee brace
- Treatment of arthritis by doing knee muscle strengthening exercises
Physiotherapy
- Knee joint replacement surgery
1- Treatment of knee arthritis with PRP injection
One of the best ways to treat knee arthritis is PRP injection into the knee. PRP means plasma rich in platelets, which helps to repair and regenerate the joints and cartilages of the body.
For PRP injection, first a blood sample is taken from the patient. Then the blood spins in a centrifuge to separate blood platelets and blood plasma. Then the plasma is enriched with growth factors and platelets and finally this substance will be injected into the patient's knee.
Blood platelets are responsible for the regeneration of body tissues; For this reason, by injecting PRP into the knee joint, the concentration of platelets in this area will increase, and the process of repairing and rebuilding knee tissues will be done better and faster.
If the knee cartilage is being destroyed due to sports injury or arthritis, PRP injection into the knee prevents further destruction of the knee cartilage. Also, this method increases the speed of regeneration and repair of knee cartilage. This is why PRP injection relieves a person from severe knee pain and is one of the definitive solutions for the treatment of knee arthritis.
PRP injection is associated with minimum side effects and is performed without the need for heavy surgery and anesthesia.
2- Treatment of knee arthritis with ozone therapy
Another effective method for treating knee arthritis is ozone therapy. Ozone therapy is a method in which ozone gas or O₃ is used to treat some diseases. Medical ozone injection is effective for treating joint pain and inflammation. People who have experienced problems such as wear and tear of the knee joint, knee arthritis, can reduce the pain and inflammation of the knees with the help of ozone therapy.
Ozone therapy is prescribed in cases where the damage to the joint is not high and knee surgery is not necessary. Ozone therapy should be performed by a physical medicine specialist.
With the introduction of ozone gas into the body, blood circulation is done at a faster rate, and this makes the process of oxygenation to the nerve roots faster. Also, the introduction of ozone gas helps to repair and regenerate the cartilages. This is the reason that after ozone therapy, the knee pain and joint inflammation are much less and the knee destruction process is stopped.
To inject ozone into the knee joint, first the skin around the knee is disinfected with alcohol to remove skin contamination. Ozone gas is then injected into the body with a thin needle and discharged near the affected area. When ozone is being injected into the patient's body, the doctor will view the detailed computer images to see the gas molecules around the target area and perform the ozone injection correctly.
3- Treatment of knee arthritis with steroid injection
One of the temporary methods to reduce knee pain and inflammation is steroid injection. In this method, corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, prednisolone and triamcinolone are injected into the knee joint along with an anesthetic such as lidocaine.
Sometimes, the doctor gives cortisone injection to the patient to relieve knee inflammation.
Since steroid and cortisone injection is a short-term method to reduce knee pain, it is suggested that these methods be performed along with physical therapy, hydrotherapy and corrective movements.
4- Treatment of knee arthritis with gel injection
Between all the joints of the human body, there is a thick liquid called "synovial fluid" that minimizes the friction between the joints. Sometimes, the synovial fluid between the joints is reduced and this causes the joints to rub when moving. Synovial fluid is composed of various substances such as hyaluronic acid. When the dose of synovial fluid is low, the doctor performs the hyaluronic acid gel injection technique to increase the concentration of synovial fluid. In this method, medical hyaluronic acid is used for knee pain treatment. The increase of synovial fluid around the knee joint leads to pain relief and improvement of the range of motion of the knee joints.
After injecting the gel, protective layers are formed between the knee bones, which make the movement of the knee easier and prevent bone wear. This is the reason that after injecting the gel, the quality of a person's life improves and he can do his daily tasks more easily.
To see definite results, it is better to do several gel injection sessions. The number of sessions and the intervals between them are determined by a specialist doctor and depend on your physical condition.
5- The most effective knee arthritis drugs to reduce knee pain
Non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to treat mild and moderate knee pain. Medicines such as acetaminophen, naproxen, diclofenac and ibuprofen are useful for reducing knee pain and inflammation.
6- Water therapy for treating knee arthritis
Doing hydrotherapy exercises reduces the pressure on the knees and helps the health of the knees. Going to swimming pools or hydrotherapy ponds helps strengthen the knee muscles and reduces knee pain to a great extent.
7- The best supplements to treat knee arthritis
To prevent the progression of knee osteoarthritis, a specialist doctor advises a person to take some cartilage building supplements. The following supplements are among the best supplements and pills for treating knee arthritis in the early stages:
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- Fast Run supplement to improve knee movement and increase muscle flexibility
- Glucosamine sulfate supplement to improve joint condition and delay joint destruction process
- Avodin tablets to stimulate collagen production in the body, help regenerate cartilage, prevent cartilage destruction and ease the movement of joints
- Vitamin D supplement for bone strength and joint protection
- B12 supplement to strengthen and regenerate bones
- Calcium tablets for strong bones and maintaining healthy bones
- Vitamin C to reduce knee inflammation
Foods useful for knee arthritis
Following a healthy diet helps to strengthen the bones and joints of the body. To prevent the wear and tear of the knee bones and maintain the health of the body, it is better to eat a variety of vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, lettuce and kale, along with fresh fruits such as strawberries, oranges, berries, carrots, kiwi, Add Shatot and Grapes to your food basket. Eating a variety of fish such as salmon and salmon helps reduce knee inflammation and improve knee function.
Eating a variety of nuts such as almonds, peanuts and whole grains can help reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis. Dairy products such as milk and eggs are also rich in vitamin D and help improve knee function.
Also, green tea, turmeric and ginger have anti-inflammatory properties and are very useful for preventing knee arthritis.
To delay knee arthritis, drink sufficient amount of water every day and avoid consuming high-fat foods, sweets and drinking too much alcohol.
8- Cold and heat therapy
Heat therapy can help relieve joint stiffness, especially if arthritis is causing morning stiffness. By increasing blood flow, heat therapy causes blood vessels to dilate and provide more oxygen and nutrients to joints and muscles. This process may lead to improvement in joint stiffness and reduction of arthritis symptoms.
On the other hand, cold therapy narrows blood vessels and reduces blood flow by reducing blood flow. This method can be effective in removing swelling, inflammation and reducing joint pain after activity. Also, cold therapy helps control symptoms by slowing down the pain signals sent to the brain.
The use of heat and cold therapy should be done according to the type of arthritis and the recommendation of the attending physician. Before using any of these methods, don't forget to consult your doctor.
9- Simple and effective methods for treating knee pain and knee arthritis
In addition to these methods, by wearing medical shoes, using knee braces during physical activity, weight control and maintaining correct body posture, you can experience less knee pain and help to quickly treat knee arthritis.
10- Treating arthritis by doing knee muscle strengthening exercises
Regular exercise helps to strengthen the muscles around the knee and reduce the complications of knee arthritis. Knee exercises should be determined by a physical medicine specialist.
To treat knee arthritis with exercise, the doctor suggests stretching exercises that help improve body flexibility and remove movement restrictions in the knee. Yoga exercises, pilates, hamstring stretching, quadriceps and hamstring stretching exercises are among the stretching exercises that help to improve the condition of the muscles around the knee and increase the range of motion of the knee.
Also, by doing strength training, you will strengthen the muscles around the knee and prevent injuries caused by knee instability and muscle injuries. Strength training can be done with body weight or dumbbells and helps to increase knee endurance. Movements such as squats, deadlifts, hip thrusts and bridge movements are very useful for strengthening the muscles around the knee.
Remember to adjust the duration and intensity of exercise according to your body and give your joints and muscles a chance to rest and recover between each exercise.
11- Physiotherapy for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis
If you go to a physical medicine specialist for the treatment of knee arthritis, it is possible that he will recommend you to do physiotherapy; Because physiotherapy is one of the effective methods for treating knee arthritis. In physiotherapy sessions, stretching exercises and a special exercise program are given to the patient, which helps to improve the range of motion of the knee, strengthen the muscles and increase the flexibility of the knee. Physiotherapy sessions should be done with the prescription of a physical medicine specialist.
12- When should knee surgery be performed to treat arthritis?
If the amount of damage to the cartilage and knee joint is extreme, so that the knee cartilage is completely destroyed and the knee bones are pressed together, a specialist doctor will perform knee joint replacement surgery to replace the damaged cartilage with new healthy cartilage and treat severe knee arthritis.
Surgery is performed with the aim of repairing the damaged joint or completely replacing the knee joint, and special prostheses are used to replace the joint. Knee joint replacement surgery is called "arthroplasty" and is performed by a specialist doctor.
Surgery is always associated with complications such as the possibility of infection, heavy bleeding, return of pain, etc., and this is why many people look for minimally invasive methods to treat knee pain. Of course, sometimes the amount of damage to the knee is so great that a person has to perform surgery to replace or repair the knee joint and has no choice but to do this.
In knee surgery, techniques such as arthroscopy, knee cartilage grafting, synectomy, osteotomy or total knee joint replacement are performed to treat knee arthritis and remove pressure on the knee bone.
Treatment of knee arthritis at home
If you are looking for ways to treat knee arthritis at home, follow these tips:
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- After heavy physical activities and household chores, give your knees rest and lie down.
- Avoid doing stressful activities.
- If necessary, use a cane to walk so that there is less pressure on your knees.
- Use a medical knee brace which helps maintain the normal position of the knee.
- If pain occurs, use ice compresses and warm towels to reduce pain and inflammation of the knees.
- Exercise at home and don't be inactive. Help your knee muscles become stronger by doing strength training and balance exercises such as yoga.
- Reduce your stress.
- Have a healthy diet and help the health of your joints by consuming water, vitamins and nutrients.
- If you are overweight, try to reach a normal weight.
It is true that carrying out these solutions helps to control knee arthritis and reduce pain; But it is better to see a specialist first so that he can suggest you the best methods of treating knee arthritis at home. Doing arbitrary methods to treat knee arthritis is not recommended in any way and it brings many complications for the person.
What is the most definitive and best treatment for knee arthritis?
The best treatment for knee arthritis is determined based on the doctor's diagnosis. The treatment of knee arthritis depends on the severity of the injury to the knee, the degree of destruction of the knee joint, the age of the patient and his physical condition.
If you are looking for a definitive solution for treating knee arthritis, you should know that two methods PRP knee injection and knee joint replacement surgery are among the best treatments for knee arthritis.
In cases where the amount of damage to the knee cartilage is not too severe, the doctor performs the PRP injection technique to force the tissues around the knee to repair and rebuild.
If PRP injection and other non-surgical methods are not effective for the person, knee replacement surgery is recommended as the last option for the person. Knee joint replacement surgery or knee cartilage repair is performed with the aim of improving the symptoms of knee arthritis and only in severe cases.
Who can treat knee arthritis?
The best way to treat movement problems is to refer to specialists. For the treatment of knee arthritis, you can visit a physical medicine specialist.
Doctor to treat knee arthritis
If you are looking for the best doctor to treat knee arthritis and you want to get rid of knee pain and inflammation forever, we suggest you visit Dr. Anna Avamehr's specialized clinic and entrust the treatment of your pain to this expert and experienced doctor.
Dr. Anna Avamehr is a physical medicine and spine specialist who has a lot of experience in solving problems related to knees and spine. This specialist doctor has the third rank of the country's specialized board in his record and is a member of the American Physical Medicine Association. You have probably seen Dr. Avamehr many times in various TV programs; Because this doctor also works as a media expert and helps to increase the awareness of the society and prevent movement problems.
At Dr. Avamehr's physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic, all problems and pains related to knees and spine are treated using advanced equipment to get rid of knee pain, back pain, neck pain, etc.
All the techniques performed by Dr. Avamehr are among certain ways to treat knee arthritis and have a quick effect on reducing knee pain and inflammation. To treat knee arthritis, Dr. Avamehr performs effective techniques such as ozone injection into the knee, PRP injection, gel injection, and doing special exercises to strengthen the knee.
Since the procedures performed by Dr. Avamehr are non-invasive, the person will see the treatment of their pain with the least amount of pain and discomfort.
Familiarization with Dr. Avamehr's treatment technique for treating knee arthritis
In Dr. Avamehr's clinic, new and advanced medical equipment is used for ozone therapy, PRP injection and gel injection. Also, after each treatment session, Dr. Avamehr specifies exercises related to strengthening the knee muscles for the patient to strengthen the muscles around the knee and eliminate the problem of knee weakness and instability.
Living with pain and limitations affects people's happiness and quality of life. That is why Dr. Avamehr performs the best methods of treating movement problems for his dear patients so that they can see their problems treated faster.
So far, many people have been examined by Dr. Avamehr and have said goodbye to pain and injuries related to the spine and knees forever. If you are also dealing with problems such as knee arthritis, meniscus damage, knee patella fracture, and knee ligament stretching, you can entrust the treatment of your problem to Dr. Avamehr.
The location of Dr. Avamehr's clinic is very good and it is located on Kamraniye Street, which is considered one of the good areas of Tehran.
So if you are looking for a competent doctor to treat knee arthritis, book your appointment as soon as possible and be visited by Dr. Avamehr.
