What exactly is osteoarthritis? How do we describe it? Osteoarthritis is a degenerative inflammatory joint disease caused due to heredity, aging, obesity, or as consequence of some trauma. It occurs when the joints rub against each other causing wear and tear of the cartilage. It can be seen in any joint like hip, knee, elbow, CMC, ankle but most commonly knee joint is affected. Do you know these days this condition is increasing rapidly? Do you know the fact that earlier this arthritis was seen mainly after the age of 55-60 years, but now it is seen in early ages after 40 years?
Every second patient visiting me in my hospital is suffering from it. Mainly women are more affected than men. Why is it so? It is mainly because of the posture of females. They have a wider pelvis as compared to that of men which puts them under more risk. After menopause also, chances of osteoarthritis increases more in females.
How do we diagnose this disease? It can be done by simply physically examining the patient; noticing its signs, and through X-ray or MRI where osteophytes or extra bone formation is seen in either femur, tibia or patella or in all the three bones.
Source: MedicineNet
-Sit on the chair With knee bend at right angles and feet flat on the floor.
-Raise one leg straight off the floor. Hold it for 10 seconds. Repeat it for 10 times.
-Do the same for the other side.
-Add on weight for further progression on each side.
Every second patient visiting me in my hospital is suffering from it. Mainly women are more affected than men. Why is it so? It is mainly because of the posture of females. They have a wider pelvis as compared to that of men which puts them under more risk. After menopause also, chances of osteoarthritis increases more in females.
How do we diagnose this disease? It can be done by simply physically examining the patient; noticing its signs, and through X-ray or MRI where osteophytes or extra bone formation is seen in either femur, tibia or patella or in all the three bones.
Source: MedicineNet
What are the Signs and symptoms that you see?
 |
| Bow legs |
- Pain
- Swelling around knee
- Stiffness
- Tenderness mainly on the medial side of knee joint
- Limping of the leg
- Bow legs seen
- Decreased range of motion
- Difficulty climbing up stairs, walking and bending knee
- Difficulty while cross-legged sitting
What exercises should be done?
Exercises should be done mainly to strengthen the muscles of the knee and provide support to the joint. Following are some exercises:1. Straight leg raise
-Lie straight on your back.
-Raise your one leg just 40-45 degrees above the bed, and pull your foot towards yourself tightening your front muscle of the thigh (quadriceps). Other knee to be kept in bent position.
-Hold it for 10 seconds. Repeat the same for other leg. Initially, 5 repetitions should be done and then progress to 10 repetitions.
- For further progression add weight to each leg starting from 1/2 kg and progressing to 1-1.5 kg.
-Raise your one leg just 40-45 degrees above the bed, and pull your foot towards yourself tightening your front muscle of the thigh (quadriceps). Other knee to be kept in bent position.
-Hold it for 10 seconds. Repeat the same for other leg. Initially, 5 repetitions should be done and then progress to 10 repetitions.
2. Towel Press
-Lie straight on your back. Bend one knee to 90-100 degrees, and another leg to be exercised is kept straight.
-Take a small towel roll, keep it under the knee.
-Press it with your knee, simultaneously pull the foot towards yourself.
-Hold it for 10 seconds and repeat it for 5-10 times.
-Repeat the same for another leg.
-Take a small towel roll, keep it under the knee.
-Press it with your knee, simultaneously pull the foot towards yourself.
-Hold it for 10 seconds and repeat it for 5-10 times.
-Repeat the same for another leg.
3. Towel press for hamstring strengthening
-Lie straight on your back. Bend one knee to 90-100 degrees.
-Take a small towel roll, keep it under the heel to be exercised.
-Press it with one heel, pushing your foot away from yourself.
-Hold it for 10 seconds and repeat it for 5-10 times.
-Repeat the same for the other side.
-Take a small towel roll, keep it under the heel to be exercised.
-Press it with one heel, pushing your foot away from yourself.
-Hold it for 10 seconds and repeat it for 5-10 times.
-Repeat the same for the other side.
4. Leg Extension While sitting on the chair
-Raise one leg straight off the floor. Hold it for 10 seconds. Repeat it for 10 times.
-Do the same for the other side.
-Add on weight for further progression on each side.
5. Vastus Medialis strengthening
-Sit on the chair with knee bend at right angles and
feet flat on the floor.
-Take a small towel roll, press it in between the inner part of the knee. Hold for 10 seconds
-Repeat it for 5-10 times.
-It is done to cure the extension lag in some patients.
-Also, it can be strengthened by raising both the leg and making a V-position with both feet or by single leg.
-Take a small towel roll, press it in between the inner part of the knee. Hold for 10 seconds
-Repeat it for 5-10 times.
-It is done to cure the extension lag in some patients.
-Also, it can be strengthened by raising both the leg and making a V-position with both feet or by single leg.
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