What is arthrosis of the joints and why it occurs

28 April 2025

The life of a person with arthrosis is divided into "before" and "after". Before the disease, there were great and small joys, sometimes minor problems. Then only a daily struggle and a quiet despair remained that a normal life will never come back. But you can solve the problem forever! Deformation of knee arthrosis What is arthrosis

It is a disease of the joints when the joint cartilage is destroyed over time, the joint ends of the bones are modified, the periastate degenerated tissue and the inflammation is actively thriving.Reasons and development

Arthrosis can develop due to excessive workloads or joint injuries. In any case, the process is accompanied by a decrease in the amount of proteoglycans (special complex proteins). Due to a decrease in the number of proteoglycans, the joint loses water as it is these molecules that hold it. As a result, the cartilage "dries", loses elasticity and elasticity, becomes rough and dry. Therefore, abnormal friction occurs as a result of a result. Due to the rubbing, the joint is "wiped", the cartilage becomes smoother, it becomes smaller. Due to the permanent microdamines, the outgrowths of joint osteophytes are formed. The last stage is the complete disappearance of cartilage.

By mistake, people accept osteophytes for "salt" that need to be "scattered". But they are not salty deposits and there is nothing to scatter in the joints.

The risk factors for arthrosis determine its causes. Please note that if there is one factor (for example, at the age of 50), arthrosis may not occur, but the chances of its occurrence increase in the presence of 2 or more causes, for example, injury at the age of 50. All factors can be divided into unmarried and genetic, external and internal.

Internal factors:

AgeSOver time, the body's ability to regenerate decreases, and cell activity decreases. Therefore, the reproduction of collagen decreases, the synovial fluid in the joints becomes smaller.

Violation of metabolismSVarious metabolic disorders can lead to arthrosis. The most common cause is a decrease in estrogen and diabetes levels. Various metabolic pathologies also lead to arthrosis.Deficiency of minerals and vitaminsSEverything is clear here. If there is no receipt of the necessary substances, then collagen and other substances simply have nothing to be synthesized. The pathology can develop against the background of anomalies with assimilation of substances.

OverweightSIt affects the cause a little, since arthrosis occurs solely due to excess weight, one should weigh on over 150 pounds. But it also has an impact, increases the likelihood of arthrosis.

Violation of bone development, jointsSSuch anomalies can occur not only for heredity but also for other reasons. The pathology of development is not a sentence, subject to certain rules of arthrosis will never occur.

ArthritisSIn the inflammatory process, the blood supply to the joint is impaired, the composition of the synovial fluid and the cartilage changes. Please note that once you get rid of arthritis, the risk of developing arthrosis remains to the composition of the fluids and tissues of the joint to return to normal.

Co -strokeSIn another way, aseptic joint necrosis. It develops with thrombophilia - blood tendencies towards the formation of blood clots. But usually thrombophilia does not lead to joint joint, therefore the development of arthrosis requires the involvement of other causes.

Chronic stressSDepression and prolonged alarming conditions lead to a decrease in the level of regeneration, a decrease in the body's protective properties. The likelihood of developing any disease, not just arthrosis, increases.
External factors:

InjuriesSThese include different types of dislocations, damage to the joint bag, the bone base of the joint. Such injuries rarely occur with a suitable passage for no trace treatment. But in the presence of other factors, arthrosis may occur.

Excessive load on the jointSIt happens to professional athletes or among workers who go over long distances. But this factor, subject to the recommendations of the coach and in the absence of other factors, rarely leads to arthrosis.

Surgical interventions(Menisctomy and others). After patient surgery, drug therapy, bed rest, other procedures to reduce the risk of complications are prescribed. With their violation, the likelihood of arthrosis increases.The main symptoms
The diagnosis of arthrosis is quite simple, even an unprepared person can do it, it is enough to understand the types of joint pain.
Types of joint pain:

The pain arises and increases from the load, weakens at rest;

If the patient is laid and the other will bend his limb, then the pain will occur as usual (due to friction in the joint);

The pain of the work is gradually increasing with the course of the disease, increases.
Another characteristic symptom is dry crunch in the joint when moving. Usually the joints are also hidden, but the sound of healthy joints is sound and sharp, the joints do not hurt. Crushing arthrosis is dry, at first it is bad, but it accompanies the movement constantly. At the same time, one experiences intense pain.
With the development of the disease, other characteristic symptoms appear: low mobility, deformity of the joints. The photo of X -ray shows a decrease in the joint precipice, the growth of the bones on the heads of the bones, their deformity.
Arthrosis is common in the knee and hip joints, as they are experiencing increased loads. It is rarely found in the joints of the shoulder and elbow, to the toes or toes. There is a variety of disease - generalized arthrosis in which all joints in the body are affected at one time. Stages of the disease
Arthrosis damages the articular cartilage, bones and tissues that are adjacent to them. The stages of arthrosis are distinguished depending on the degree of damage to the joint.1st stage
At this stage, degenerative processes affect only collagen fibers and proteoglycan molecules in cartilage. Due to the change in cartilage or synovial fluid, pathological friction occurs, leading to painful sensations. The pain occurs after intense physical activity, at rest disappears. The movements of the joints are not yet difficult, the changes do not relate to muscle fibers, a joint bag and the surrounding blood vessels. At this stage, the changes are not visible at X -Ray or are insignificant.Stage 2
Due to abnormal friction, cartilage loses the properties of elasticity and strength, gradually smaller and no longer protects the heads of the bones. As a result, they are flattened, which is why the area of their contact increases. At the ends of the joint platform, outgrowths are formed - osteophytes, which are clearly visible in the X -ray picture.
At this stage, the pain pursues the patient not only with loads, but also with minor movements. Peace does not give complete relief, although it can reduce pain. The joint partially loses mobility, the patient himself also tries not to charge the affected limb.
Due to the lack of mobility, the blood supply to the joints worsens. As a result, the composition of the synovial fluid changes, it becomes viscous, loses lubricating properties, which accelerates the course of the disease. The X-ray shows a decrease in the lumen of the joint difference by 50-70%, the joint deformity becomes noticeable. Stage 3
At this stage, the cartilage completely or partially disappears. The mobility of the joint disappears, the patient experiences intense pain not only when moving but also at rest. The joint gap and the synovial fluid disappear and the wrinkles and atrophies of the joint. At this stage, only surgical treatment is possible with the replacement of the joint with an artificial prosthesis. If this is not done, then ancose will happen with the inability to move.Methods of treatment
Even with 100% dedication to the doctor and the patient, the joint is completely restored to only the 1 stage of arthrosis. In 2 stages there is a deformity of the bones, so it will not work to return the joint to the joint. But you can slow the operation for a long time or even completely avoid it. Stage 3 of arthrosis is treated extremely surgically.
Many methods are used in the treatment of 1 and 2 stages of arthrosis. First, it's drug treatment. Various physiotherapy, biological treatments, massage are also used. Overweight requires food normalization.Symptomatic therapy
Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs are used to eliminate pain. All remedies have many contraindications, in addition, they are not recommended for prolonged use as they impair the synthesis of proteoglycans in the joint.
To relieve pain, it is better to use selective anti -inflammatory drugs. They do not cause complications, have few contraindications and can be accepted vaguely for a long time. To improve blood circulation, you can use vasodilating medicines or local irritant ointments.Specific therapy
It consists of taking a chondroprotector (glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate) - cartilage restoration medicines. Glucosamine stimulates the activity of chondrocytes, in addition, it is a raw material for the creation of proteoglycan molecules. Chondroitin sulfate increases the ability of proteoglycan to grab and hold water. In addition, it stimulates the formation of collagen fibers and blocks the enzymes that dissolve them.
Intraiorticular injections of hyaluronic acid are also used. It is a raw material for collagen fibers and an integral part of the synovial fluid. The treatment method is common and has proven effective. It takes 1-1, 5 years to achieve the effect of specific therapy for a long time until the cartilage is completely restored.Surgery
The last and most radical method of treating arthrosis. During the operation, the affected joint is switched off, the joint head and the bed of the joint are removed. In their place, the artificial joint is placed with a titanium head and a hut made of high strength polyethylene. The whole structure is fixed in the bones with the help of pins.
The surgery to replace the hip or knee joint is complex and dangerous. It often leads to complications (pulmonary thromboembolism, infectious diseases). Even with successful surgery, the prosthesis "destroys" over time and requires replacement. This happens for a maximum of 10-15 years, and the minimum period is 1-3 years.Other procedures
Many procedures are aimed at eliminating harmful friction in the joints, improving blood supply. Treatment methods, many of them should be used in complete or alternated. We will analyze only a few of the most effective treatments:

Manual therapySIn the process, the manual therapist "stretches" the joint, reducing the pressure with the cartilage. The procedure should be performed frequently and regularly, but the effect of it appears immediately.

Another way of extracting the joint -gripSIt is effectively used on the knee joint, the knee is stretched over a special mass with the help of the apparatus. There are enough 2 courses a year for 10-12 sessions per course.

Therapeutic massageSAfter the procedure, the circulation of the joint fluid improves, the blood supply and plasticity of the joint increases. Massage is contraindicated in inflammatory processes.

UltrasoundSWith ultrasound vibration, a "massage" of muscles, blood vessels and cartilage tissue occurs. Ultrasound accelerates metabolism due to biochemical exposure. In addition, it has a thermal effect when the mechanical energy from the sound goes into heat.

InExercise therapyArthrosis includes many exercises, including unusual workouts that are used exclusively for arthrosis.Here is an example of exercises for which a specialist doctor in arthologists speaks with explanations for each exercise.Diet for arthrosis
For a long time, it was thought that malnutrition leads to arthrosis and could be cured with a diet. Today, it has become clear that nutrition is not directly related to arthrosis.
Of course, excess weight is one of the factors that accelerate the course of arthrosis, so diets are useful, but only to a certain circle of people. Normalizing nutrition for arthrosis should be understood that it is taken from excess weight.
Weight loss is especially important for people suffering from gonarthrosis because the body's main severity is on the knees.
When you lose weight, you need to understand and use several rules that will simplify the task and guarantee the result:

Psychological workSThe desire to "eat tightly" arises because of certain psychological attitudes, as well as the desire to reward or soothe the nerves with the help of the sweet. Such psychological problems are deprived of weight loss and the increase in stress sharpens the situation. Weight loss without solving psychological problems will only give a temporary effect.

Not weight loss but normalizing foodSThe main cause of excess weight is malnutrition. If you lose weight on your body but do not eliminate the unbalanced diet, then after a while the person gave weight again. It is necessary to remove the root of the problem. That is, it is necessary to normalize nutrition not to a certain "weight loss period", but forever.

Gradually introducing all rulesSIt is very difficult to psychologically lose weight, so all the rules of a healthy diet should be introduced gradually. First, one rule is introduced (for example, not after 19: 00), after you are used to one rule, enter another.

Should be crossed from the menuFried meat, all kinds of dishes made in butter, pastry products made of white flour. You should eat more vegetables, fruits, simple cereals on the water. It is advisable to break the daily diet of 5-6 meals, refuse to eat 3-4 hours before bedtime, drink more water.
Arthrosis is a terrible disease, but with a systematic and timely approach to treatment it withdraws. In order to defeat it, you need to know its nature, development mechanisms, risk factors and causes of development. If you use all the recommended methods of therapy, the cure of arthrosis will be quite simple.