Knee joint disease cannot be ignored

It is a common phenomenon that the elderly in the family have clumsy hands and feet as they get older. The most common problems are stiff knees and inflexible movements. Knee stiffness is also a type of joint stiffness. In fact, this is a pathological phenomenon caused by the degeneration of articular cartilage. Therefore, we should pay more attention to the elderly at home. Once certain characteristics are found, we should seek medical attention in time and exercise more.

1. Joint stiffness

Joint stiffness refers to varying degrees of obstruction in normal joint functions (such as flexion, extension, rotation, etc.), which manifests as a reduction in the range of motion. Completely different from ankylosis of the joint with complete loss of function. Treatment is targeted at the primary disease, and may include local massage, physical therapy, external application of Chinese medicine, joint function exercisers, manual release and other therapies, or even joint adhesion lysis.

Many middle-aged and elderly people in my country over the age of 50 suffer from knee joint diseases. The patient walks with an unsteady gait, has joint pain when going up and down stairs, and is afraid to exert force. When getting up in the morning or standing up after sitting for a long time, the joints are stiff and the patient cannot take a step. It is difficult to squat, and there is a friction sound when the joints move. In severe cases, the joints may accumulate fluid, swell, or even become deformed. X-ray examination showed osteophyte formation on the joint edges, narrowing of the joint space, etc.

2. Five types of knee joint disease

Many people think that this is what happens when you get older, but in fact it is a disease caused by the degeneration of articular cartilage. Bone hyperplasia, synovitis, meniscus injury, and patellar softening are common clinical manifestations. However, since articular cartilage and meniscus are avascular tissues and lack blood supply, treatment is difficult.

Joint degeneration: There is a smooth, flexible and elastic protective layer on the joint surface, which is medically called "articular cartilage". As we age, articular cartilage wears out and becomes thinner, losing its former smoothness and elasticity, becoming sunken or even falling off in small pieces (prone to bone hyperplasia, cystic changes and free bone), which is medically known as "joint degeneration";

Bone hyperplasia: After the articular cartilage degenerates, wears out, becomes thinner, and becomes sunken, the human body gradually grows bone spurs to maintain the stability of the joints. This is bone hyperplasia, commonly known as "bone spurs."

Synovitis: "Synovitis" is a disease in which the synovium is stimulated by joint trauma or intra-articular lesions, causing synovial congestion and edema, excessive secretion of synovial fluid, and reduced absorption, resulting in joint accumulation, swelling and pain.

Meniscus injury: The meniscus are two crescent-shaped gaskets located in the gaps on both sides of the knee joint cavity. When the joint rotates violently, they are torn, which is called meniscus injury.

Patellar softening: refers to a disease in which the surface cartilage of the patella (kneecap) degenerates, corrodes, breaks, softens and falls off due to repeated sprains or unreasonable movements. Joint pain and fatigue are its main manifestations.