LOWER LIMB EXTENSION IN THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF OSTEOARTHRITIS PATIENTS

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease with mild symptoms and relatively slow progression. The clinical manifestation of osteoarthritis is characterized by a pain syndrome of a mechanical type, caused by a decrease in the depreciation properties of cartilage tissue. Pain sensations occur in the subchondral bone due to the spread of a push wave to it when walking, which is not extinguish had by thinned cartilage. The resulting rigidity of the ligamentous-muscular apparatus limits the mobility of the joint, reducing the load on it, but increases the compression of the affected articular surfaces. Traction of lower limbs in weak radon nitric mineral water from Tskaltubo spring was tried for treatment of major joints osteoarthritis stage 1-3 versus balneotherapy alone. The disease running with synovitis was assessed as regards clinical indices, activity of the inflammation, connective tissue destruction, limb hemodinamics and neuromuscular status. Underwater traction produced a 10% increase in efficacy as compared balneotherapy alone, it extends indications to balneotherapy on osteoarthritis with synovitis and permits early introduction of adjuvant physical methods contributing to rehabilitation of osteoarthritis patients. Thus, traction of the lower extremities in mineral water can be used as method that increases the effectiveness of balneotherapy for patients with OA. It allows to expand the use of resort balneotherapy for more pronounced forms of arthrosis with synovial phenomena, and also contributes to an earlier inclusion in the treatment process of therapeutic exercises, mechanotherapy and other methods that accelerate the rehabilitation on patients with osteoarthritis.