Restoration of cartilage between joints. Medicines for the formation of chondrocytes. The use of alternative methods of therapy

Joint cartilage damage can begin as early as 30 years of age. When conducting research on the cartilaginous surface, splits and fractures are found. Splitting can occur in both horizontal and vertical directions. The body begins to react to destructive processes, due to which the patient begins to experience an accumulation of cartilage tissue cells. Age-related disorders of the cartilaginous tissue of the knee joint can be noticed already at the age of 40.

In the world, a huge number of people suffer from various defects in the articular cartilage tissue. According to studies, every year there are thousands of patients who are diagnosed with damage to the cartilage tissue of the knee joint. Such damage can occur due to age-related wear and sometimes due to sports injuries. When a patient refuses to undergo treatment, this leads to a marked decrease in the quality of life. In some cases, the patient begins to experience constant severe pain at the slightest movement of the legs. As a result, the patient can be diagnosed with arthrosis - a chronic painful disease of the joints with their permanent deformation. Joints are called movable joints of the bones of the skeleton, involved in the movement of bone levers, the movement of the body and maintaining it in the desired position. People suffer from diseases of the joints since ancient times.

The main causes of cartilage destruction:

The main cause of joint diseases is improper metabolism, which occurs as a result of an unbalanced diet and an unhealthy lifestyle. The reason may be the abuse of smoking, alcohol, fatty and fried foods, the lack of vitamins and minerals needed by the body in the diet, poor physical activity, and poor working conditions.

Often diseases of the articular cartilage occur due to infectious lesions of the joints. Chronic hypothermia of the joints also provokes the onset and development of the disease. The inflammatory process in the knee joint can begin due to a violation of the permeability of the vascular wall.

Even a minor injury to the knee joint can lead to the development and exacerbation of the disease. Joint pain affects both men and women.

But in men, diseases of the spine are more common, and in women - diseases of the peripheral joints.

Articular cartilage in the knee joint plays a very important role in human movement. It is a strong, elastic, smooth gasket, the main functions of which are:

load distribution when walking;
ensuring easy sliding of bones relative to each other.

The development of articular cartilage disease of the knee:

When negative factors appear, the cartilage becomes rough, becomes significantly thinner, and in some cases even dries out and becomes covered with cracks. Soft sliding becomes impossible, instead of it there is a strong friction, the surfaces of the joints begin to cling to each other. If untreated, the degeneration process continues. With reduced depreciation, the bones begin to flatten out, thereby increasing the articular area. The patient can observe the appearance of osteophytes - bone growths that look like growths.

Due to the lack of pumping and mobility, it begins to atrophy, becomes thick, viscous. This leads to a weakening of the supply of useful nutrients to the cartilage tissue, which greatly worsens the patient's condition.

Due to the thinning of the cartilage, the distance between the articulating bones is significantly reduced. When walking begins a strong friction of the joints. Destructive processes continue to progress more and more. The patient begins to feel morning stiffness, a painful condition. This happens both during exercise and at rest. Particularly pronounced painful symptoms become when walking up the stairs. To protect a painful leg, a person begins to limp. In advanced cases, the patient can no longer move without a cane or crutches.

With an advanced degree of arthrosis, cartilage tissue is almost completely destroyed. No ointments and preparations will help restore cartilage tissue, in this case only surgery can help.

How to restore the cartilage tissue of the joint?

Surprisingly, the cartilage tissue of the knee joint is designed in such a way that it can be very easily damaged even with a load of 1 kg applied in the wrong place. This will never happen if the joint is enclosed in a strong corset of ligaments that holds the bone in place.

Restoration of the cartilage of the knee joint is possible only when a sufficient amount of nutrients is supplied to the cartilage tissue. During the day, the knees bend and unbend a huge number of times. If there is a lack of lubrication - synovial fluid, then the adjacent joints will increasingly destroy each other.

There is practically no blood flow to the knee joint (there are no capillaries in the articular cartilage). In the absence of proper nutrition, the growth and restoration of cartilage becomes impossible. To support its existence, cartilage tissue is forced to take the microelements and vitamins it needs from the synovial fluid.

In order for cartilage tissue regeneration to proceed faster, it is necessary to maintain a high level of chondrocytes - the main cells of cartilage tissue. This is ensured by adequate nutrition, which is possible through the synovial fluid. However, if the knee joint remains stationary, the nutrients will not be able to penetrate the tissue. The restoration of cartilage joints is almost entirely dependent on motor activity.

The first thing to do is to review your diet. Only natural products should be taken. However, this does not mean that only plant-based foods should be eaten. First of all, it is necessary to exclude the intake of carbonated water, fast food, overcooked fatty foods. They not only reduce the level of acidity in the gastrointestinal tract, but also interfere with the production of growth hormones. Eating should be done 5-6 times a day. Portions should be small or medium.

The amount of growth hormones in the blood directly depends on the intensity of training. The more intense the classes, the faster the restoration of the cartilage tissue of the joints will take place. However, do not overdo it. After training, there should not be a feeling of exhaustion, a vigorous state of the body should remain. In case of damage to the joint, the intensity of the exercises should be discussed with the doctor. He will tell you exactly what exercises to do. Any workout should include warming up the damaged joint and spine.

When treating, you should choose the right set of measures to cure the disease. The first step is to establish the correct diagnosis. The sooner treatment is started, the greater the chance of a quick recovery. Painkillers should only be taken as directed by a doctor. In case of violation of the cartilage tissue of the knee joint, chondoprotectors are taken, thanks to which there is a rapid recovery of damaged cartilage tissues. Additionally, warming ointments, anti-inflammatory creams and vasodilators are taken. The attending physician may prescribe the imposition of various compresses on the painful joint, as well as injections and physiotherapy.

Do not forget that medications do not treat arthrosis of the knee joint, but only help get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of the disease. Many of them have side effects, and their long-term use is undesirable.

Painkillers should be taken only for very acute pain, as they negatively affect the joint.

Joints are a vulnerable place in the human body. Constant load - weight and movement, injuries, malnutrition, inflammatory processes lead to their gradual destruction - degeneration, or osteoarthritis.

Degenerative diseases of the joints occupy the first place among all diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Often they coexist with inflammatory processes, exacerbating the manifestations of each other.

A joint is a complex structure that contains bones and cartilage that covers them. Thanks to cartilage, there is an unhindered sliding of the articular surfaces relative to each other. Bones provide cartilage with nutrients. As soon as problems arise in one component of the joint, the entire system begins to suffer.

There are 3 main factors that destroy joints:

Disturbed metabolism within the cartilage. The main substance of cartilage is collagen and proteins. Proteins consist of chondroitin and glycosamines. Violation of their metabolism is the leading destructive factor in the opinion of most scientists and doctors.
Inflammatory process that triggers cartilage damage. Damaged cartilage begins to produce other substances that can independently cause inflammation in other parts of the joint and stimulate bone growth with the formation of spikes.
The result of recurring inflammation is osteoarthritis.
Loads. Moreover, their number, degree, and time of action are also important. Loads and frequent injuries trigger the process of destruction of the joint, destroy its cartilage, and cause deformation of the bones.

Which joints are affected the most?

First of all, the most intensively working joints get sick - knee, hip, intervertebral, joints of the hands.

For example, the cartilaginous tissue of the knee joint experiences daily stress and weight, and active movements. It is damaged, destroyed, and it becomes not so easy to restore the normal functioning of the knee joint. The same processes occur in other joints.

How to find out about joint damage?

It is impossible not to notice diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Pain in the lower back and neck, knees, hands, crunching during movement, inability to straighten up or climb stairs - all these are clear signs of osteoarthritis.

Later, the pain begins to disturb even when resting, in the morning there is stiffness of the body, in severe cases, a cane or walker may be needed.

Can joints be restored?

Restoration of damaged joints primarily involves the restoration of their cartilaginous tissue and perichondrium. And if you can restore the structure of the bone by taking calcium and vitamin D3, then things are more complicated with cartilage.

First of all, it is necessary to influence the work of cartilage cells - chondrocytes, protect them from inflammation, and reduce the activity of destructive substances. Then it is necessary to stimulate the recovery process in the intercellular substance of the cartilage.

Drugs that perform all these tasks are called chondroprotectors - "protecting cartilage."

What are chondroprotectors?

There are several groups of chondroprotectors. They differ in the active substance, the mechanism of influence, the effect, the number of components in the composition. Chondroprotectors are especially effective in the treatment of early stages of osteoarthritis.

In severe cases and with intense pain, combined preparations are used - chondroprotectors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Chondroprotectors should be taken in long courses to achieve maximum effect and restore joint function.

General indications for the appointment of chondroprotectors:

degenerative diseases of the joints - arthrosis of any area;
osteocondritis of the spine;
inflammatory processes in the joints - arthritis;
destruction of articular cartilage.

Medicines based on chondroitin sulfate

Chondroitin belongs to the most important class of glycosamines. It is involved in the formation of cartilage proteins, the restoration of its structure and properties. The drug enhances the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid.

By stimulating chondrocyte cells, chondroitin provides a better degree of cartilage and perichondrium regeneration in comparison with other drugs. when it is taken, it recovers faster. In addition, pain and stiffness decrease, and other manifestations of osteoarthritis disappear.

Chondroitin-based drugs include mucosat, structum, artradol, chondrogard, artrin, chondroitin-akos, chondrolone. These drugs are produced in the form of tablets, capsules and solutions, designed for long-term use.

Preparations containing glucosamine

Glucosamine is a substance found in nature. It is the main component of chitin, which is most often extracted from the shell of crustaceans. Glucosamine-based preparations protect cartilage from damage and restore normal metabolism in it.

These include don, elbon, chondroxide maximum, sustilac, glucosamine sulfate.

Glucosamine preparations are available in the form of powders, tablets, injections and even creams (chondroxide maximum).

Medicinal products of animal origin

There are also medicines that are made from the cartilage and bones of animals - for example, marine life or calves.

These drugs include rumalon - an extract of bone marrow and cartilage tissue of calves. It contains various components of cartilage and thus stimulates its recovery. In addition, rumalon as a natural defense slows down the aging of cartilage.

The medicine is produced only in the form of a solution, it is administered intramuscularly. Like most animal products, it increases the risk of developing allergies. Due to the content of a foreign protein, it can trigger immunity against its own body, therefore it is prohibited in autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis). Pregnancy or its planning, breast-feeding are also contraindications for taking the drug.

The analogue of rumalon is biartrin. A similar drug, which is obtained from marine animals, is called alflutop.

Mucopolysaccharides

They slow down the aging of cartilage and increase the production of intra-articular fluid, restore joint mobility.

These medicines have many contraindications - peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, diabetes mellitus, kidney and liver disease, accompanied by insufficiency. But in some situations, it is mucopolysaccharides that are the best drug of choice.

Arteparon belongs to this group. This drug is administered intramuscularly, is prescribed for a long course.

Multicomponent drugs

To influence several symptoms of splicing, preparations containing both chondroitin sulfate and glycosamine are used. These include teraflex, artron complex, chondroflex, chondrogluxide, artra.

Multicomponent preparations are highly effective, they are also used for a long time. They are produced mainly in the form of tablets and capsules, some are used topically - as ointments and creams (Teraflex M). Well tolerated, of the side effects, only allergies and sometimes discomfort in the stomach can be noted.

Combined drugs

Since pain is an inevitable companion of osteoarthritis, getting rid of it is the most important task of complex treatment. For these purposes, chondroprotectors have been developed, which include not only cartilage components, but also non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

These drugs include teraflex advance, artrodar.

Combined drugs could be considered the gold standard for the treatment of osteoarthritis, if not for their side effects, in particular, on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Due to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs included in the composition, patients may experience:

heartburn and stomach pain;
exacerbation or appearance of peptic ulcer;
bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract.

In old age, these manifestations are most often erased, imperceptible and can lead to serious complications. It is necessary to prescribe combination drugs to patients after 60 years of age with caution and be sure to warn what uncontrolled use may threaten.

Long-term use of combination drugs also increases the risk of bleeding and peptic ulcer disease.

The effectiveness and safety of the use of chondroprotectors has been studied for more than 25 years all over the world. The best results were shown by drugs based on glycosamine, chondroitin sulfate and their combinations.

Hyaluronic acid preparations

Hyaluronic acid is the most important part of the intra-articular fluid, it acts as a lubricant. In case of violation of the production of hyaluronic acid, movements in the joints are difficult, microtraumas occur. This leads to the growth of bone edges and the formation of spikes, pain when walking, crunching when moving.

Medicines based on hyaluronic acid are injected into the joint. In this case, they instantly reach the affected area and have a healing effect. Courses of therapy are repeated after six months or a year.

Hyaluronic acid preparations are not used for severe inflammation, skin diseases. Contraindications include children's age.

Given the intra-articular injection, treatment with hyaluronic acid is carried out only by orthopedic traumatologists.

Homeopathic and antihomotoxic remedies

Homeopathy and antihomotoxic therapy is involved in the treatment of osteoarthritis along with classical medicine. The main advantage of homeopathic medicines is the absence of side effects and contraindications for treatment. They can be used for a long time and show good long-term results.

Of the well-established preparations, Cel T and Traumeel C are known. They have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, by reducing inflammation they restore the functioning of the joints. They are used in the form of solutions, tablets and gel.

Antihomotoxic and homeopathic treatment can be carried out during pregnancy and in childhood. Breastfeeding is also not a hindrance.

Collagen-based preparations

Collagen-based preparations are mostly dietary supplements. One of the well known is Collagen Ultra. Serious side effects from taking this supplement were not noted, but its benefits remain in question.

Folk remedies

Is there an alternative for those who are not accustomed to being treated with traditional means? Yes, in the early stages, treatment with folk methods is possible.

For the most part, these are plant-based compresses designed to relieve swelling and inflammation in the diseased joint. Cabbage leaves with honey, burdock, elecampane root, dandelion vodka tincture are successfully used.

But we must remember that the treatment of folk remedies eliminates the symptoms, but does not affect the cause. They cannot stop the destruction of cartilage.

Food

If there are chondroprotectors in tablets, why can't they be used in their natural form? After all, aspic dishes (jelly, fish aspic) and sweet jellies are rich in collagen - natural, not synthetic.

But do not lean on jellies with osteoarthritis. The harm to the heart will be much greater than the intended benefit.

You need to eat foods rich in protein, sulfur, selenium, fatty acids. These are the “bricks” from which healthy cartilage will be built.

The diet must include:

dairy;
lean meats (beef, chicken);
sources of sulfur (sea bass and chum salmon, cod, gooseberries and plums, cabbage and onions, eggs);
sources of selenium (garlic, seaweed, whole grain bread);
polyunsaturated fatty acids (mackerel, sardine, salmon, olive and linseed oils).

By eating healthy foods, you can slow down the aging and destruction of cartilage, improve the functioning of the joints.

Which method should be preferred?

With osteoarthritis, you should not get carried away with any one type of treatment. Therapy for degenerative joint diseases should be comprehensive - from proper nutrition to a well-chosen scheme of chondroprotectors.

Only a doctor should prescribe treatment. Self-medication in case of osteoarthritis is unacceptable.

Hello, friends! Let's continue the topic of cartilage damage. We will look at hyaline cartilage damage and try to answer questions injury prevention and cartilage restoration, how to treat and restore joint cartilage.

Hyaline cartilage covers the touching heads of our bones at the joint and can be damaged very easily. To prevent this from happening, nature provides a complex and unique structure. Given all the features of this structure, with the right attitude to their joints, their service life is enormous. Unfortunately, cartilage has a very limited potential for regeneration (self-healing).

If an injury occurs and the cartilage is damaged, cracked, exfoliated, then it is restored in this case due to the flow of blood and nutrients from the bone. It is on this property that the operation is based. But the newly formed restored tissue already consists of. This fabric does not have enough in its composition. Such tissue is not suitable for performing the functions of hyaline cartilage, it is less reliable, not as strong, smooth and elastic than the original one. But it is better to have at least such tissue in the form of a patch on the cartilage than to have nothing.

My point is that in such a situation with cartilage repair, especially if there is already damage or if the cartilage has been operated on, it is necessary to think about what to do to strengthen the cartilage tissue, push for natural restoration and protect yourself from subsequent damage and diseases of the joints, the probability of which, unfortunately, increases many times over.

Nutrition and restoration of cartilage tissue of the joint

Be that as it may, these are living tissues, therefore, in any case, they consist of living cells that are born, live, feed, multiply and die. Cartilage cannot be fed like all other cells in our body, due to the nutrients that blood brings to them. Cartilage does not have capillaries. This is understandable: no vessels can withstand such loads that the cartilages of the knee joint experience, they simply burst right away. There are no nerve endings there either, otherwise our every step would be given with severe pain. But you have to eat. The cartilaginous tissue of the joints is nourished by osmosis. It's a rather complicated phenomenon to explain. Therefore, I will write this: nutrients come to the joint, where they are taken and dissolved in, produced by special cells, and the synovial fluid, entering the joint, constantly mixing and renewing there, absorbing into the cartilage fibers, nourishes them with the necessary substances and takes away the products of decay and vital activity . And to make the whole process as efficient as possible the following conditions must be met:

The synovial fluid must be sufficiently fluid.

This point, in principle, should be clear to everyone and does not require long discussions. In order for the synovial fluid to be liquid, it is needed. It is necessary to determine your rate of consumption of clean water per day (30 ml x your weight) and drink it. Something can only be diluted with water. I met people who said that the joints crunched, but began to drink more water and the crunch stopped. It's as simple as that, and he may have prevented himself from injury and cartilage destruction. True, one must be careful here: a crunch without pain and discomfort can be natural for the joints. If after a warm-up and exercises the crunch goes away - everything is fine, if it is accompanied by pain - see a doctor. The same goes for blood. Only water can "thinn" the blood, nothing else. Aspirin or other medicines of a similar effect can prevent blood clotting for a certain time, but time will pass and everything will return. In addition, only sufficiently liquid blood is able to quickly and easily deliver nutrients and oxygen through the vessels and capillaries to the most remote corners of our body and to the joints. I think it is clear that the consumption of pure water is one of the main conditions for the restoration of cartilage tissue. If this simple condition is not accepted, the rest will be useless.

Synovial fluid should be in sufficient quantity,with its deficiency, the contacting parts of the jointwill put more pressure on each other and collapse.

This indicator in a normal, non-injured joint also depends on the amount of water consumed and other nutrients needed by the body and, in particular, by special cells located on the surface. Under these conditions, the body will produce as much fluid as necessary.

If we take the condition after the operation (during the operation, the internal environment of the joint is washed), then in order to replenish the composition of the fluid and protect the cartilage, the doctor prescribes drugs - the main component of the synovial fluid and the intercellular substance of the cartilage tissue. These drugs are also called "prosthetic synovial fluid". Their main function is to retain water in the knee joint. They are expensive. The cost depends on various factors, as well as the degree of processing. Some drugs are injected into the joint after surgery and for prevention during strong sports loads, others - for degenerative diseases of the joints and cartilage. The degree of viscosity of the drug depends on how long it can be in the joint cavity and make up for the lack of its own synovial fluid. belong to the group. This is a topic for a separate article and we will definitely talk about it. Here I will say that hyaluronic acid preparations are useful for the joint and the whole organism, one minus, the introduction into the joint (even a simple injection) is a violation of its environment and the likelihood of infection. And the joint of each person can react in its own way. You have to be careful with this. Hyaluronic acid preparations can also be in the form of additives (dry matter). As well as other drugs of the chondroprotective group, their effectiveness has not been precisely determined and is debatable. So, drink water.

- a group of medicines and biologically active food supplements designed to maintain and restore cartilage tissue.

In the joint, there must be a constant renewal and mixing of the intra-articular fluid, and this can only be achieved through the mechanical work of the joint, its flexion and extension.

Here, too, everything is clear: stagnant water is a swamp and a hotbed of everything bad. A new portion of liquid with nutrients should be mixed with the old one and enrich it. If the movements are not enough, then enrichment does not occur and the cartilage has nothing to eat, its cells starve and die, and there is no question of recovery at all. After cartilage surgery, doctors forbid standing on the leg to allow it to heal, pressure on it is dangerous during this period. But it is during this period, when it is impossible to stand on the leg, it is necessary to move the leg even more and perform flexion and extension movements, constantly mixing the fluid of the knee joint. Carefully, controlling movements, up to the pain threshold.

Synovial fluid should be rich in composition, those. contain in the right amount all the necessary nutrients for cartilage tissue cells. Cartilage tissue takes the necessary microelements and vitamins only from the synovial fluid.

First, I will remind you that our body is a complex interconnected system. And this system, by the way, needs standard substances: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, enzymes, fiber, and. For us, everything is quite simple. It is necessary to consume all this in the right quantities, and the body will figure it out: where, why and what to direct it. What goes to the heart, what's in the bones, what's in the joints. This entire article could be reduced to a couple of phrases: drink water, eat well and move - you don’t need to know anything else. But then who will read it? And would you believe so easily? After all, we need evidence, arguments, and so on. So let's continue.

In each of my articles about the various components of the joint, I focused on their composition. The compositions of ligaments, cartilage, menisci and synovial fluid were disassembled. This means that in order for all this to live and be restored, it must be given in the required amount. It so happened that for the joint, in addition to the standard set of nutrients, you need:

specific substances glycosaminoglycans (this includes) ,

In fact, the body produces all this itself, if it has enough of what to produce it from. But modern science and medicine believe that it would be a good idea to give him these substances directly. And then everyone will be fine: the body will not waste time and effort to produce these substances, and their sufficient amount and even excess will ensure effective restoration (in this case, cartilage). Well, let's believe science and for now let's accept the fact that in order to maintain and restore cartilage tissue and the joint itself, we need good nutrition and these substances in the form of nutritional supplements.

In other articles, we will analyze each of these substances: which, how much, to whom and how to choose and how to take and whether to take.

For effective cartilage tissue regeneration,it is necessary to maintain a high level of chondrocytes - the main cartilage cells of the tissue.

The restoration of cartilage tissue and the production of the necessary compounds and substances are dealt with chondrocytes.

Chondrocytes, by their nature, do not differ from other cells in terms of development and regeneration, their metabolic rate is quite high. But the problem is that there are very few of these same chondrocytes. In articular cartilage, the number of chondrocytes is only 2-3% of the mass of cartilage. Therefore, the restoration of cartilage tissue is so limited.

In order for the cartilage of the knee joint to recover, it is necessary to achieve a high number and activity of chondrocyte cells. All that is required of us is complete nutrition, which they can receive through the synovial fluid, through physical activity.

And there is one more thing that should not be forgotten. Let me remind you that in the joint, under the influence of various causes (internal and external), processes of destruction and restoration are constantly taking place. And our mission is to maintaining a balance between factors that damage articular cartilage and factors that contribute to its protection and regeneration. With an injury or after surgery on the cartilage, the task becomes more complicated: it is necessary to restore the cartilage tissue faster than it will be destroyed. And the issues of recovery in our body are dealt with hormones. Hormones speed up metabolic processes. Under the action of hormones, muscle tissue is restored after stress and damage, bone tissue, ligaments and tendons are strengthened. Hormones also take part in the process of cartilage repair. Rather, according to modern science, one hormone - insulin-like growth factor hormone (IGF). It is he who is able to cause the division of chondrocytes. The amount of this hormone in the blood depends on the intensity of training and load. The more intense and more frequent it is, the more the hormone and the more intensive the process of cartilage restoration. We will definitely return to this issue. Consider artificial and natural analogues of this hormone. I also have experience in this.

The joint must constantly move, otherwise the synovial fluid will not be able to effectively penetrate the cartilage tissue and carry nutrients there. Thus, the vital activity and restoration of cartilagealmost entirely dependent on our physical activity.

Well, I will not be original: movement is life, or rather, life is movement. And even more specifically: the life of the joint is. Let's not take into account injuries. Why do joints get sick and cartilage breaks down?

A person is born. As a child, he constantly runs, jumps, learns the world, does not sit still. The study begins: we sit down at the table and reduce physical activity, but we are saved by the metabolism and a strong growing young organism, with great potential for recovery. We get older, sit on a chair for a longer period, then in the car and go home, and growth is already stopping, the processes of metabolism, regeneration and recovery are slowing down due to natural causes; in the joints, the processes of destruction begin to prevail over restoration. The cartilage is destroyed.

Don't you think that the right way out is to start running and jumping right now, when the body and joints need it most? Please note that this scheme can be applied to any part of our body.

I have a lot of experience in dealing with rehabilitation doctors. I have a bunch of programs and exercises, both my own and found somewhere. I'll sort them out and give them to you sometime. But that's not the point. If you have an injury, or you have already experienced knee surgery, then there are specialists who will give you their recommendations. In this case, you can not do without consulting a doctor and you need to listen to him. If you are an athlete, then your task, on the contrary, is to control the load and listen carefully to your body. Gradually, you will feel when you can move on to the next step and increase the load on the injured limb. The main thing is not to force events, gradually, smoothly increase the load and return to the previous level.

I want to give some advice to those who go to work, live an ordinary city life, but understand the need to change something in their lives and try to come to a more active and healthy lifestyle. I assume that otherwise you would not be reading this blog.

Let’s move away from exercises and complexes, no one will do them all the time, but I won’t be able to give you a way to heal joints without doing anything, in a week. Sorry.

I also work in the office, I also sit on a chair at the computer all day, and now at home. True, in my life there is a lot of vigorous activity: two to three hours three to four times a week I have high-intensity training. But if this is discarded, there are no differences. What am I doing?

Firstly, I strongly advise you to add to your life, if not already, sports and hobbies. It will enrich life, make it brighter and richer. You will feel that you are different from many in that you can do something that is not available to others. You will be proud of yourself and your body (and so it will be, the body will not go anywhere, it will be forced to tone up to match your activity). You will not sluggishly trudge home, thinking: “Now eat, then TV and sleep. There are two more days until the weekend." Goals and plans will appear.

You came to the office, sat down on a chair and began to work. How to act?

After a certain amount of time (an hour or two), and so several times a day, you need to:

Take your eyes off the monitor. Close the eyes with the inner ribs of the palms, slightly press and make rotational movements for 10-20 seconds. And for another 20-30 seconds, continue to sit with your eyes closed.

- Then get up and slowly approach the cooler (the source of quenching the thirst of an office worker).

- Pour a glass of water.

- Slowly drink water and at the same time, without turning your head, look with your eyes in different directions of your office (up and down, left and right).

- After that, you can go out into the corridor, walk and return to the place.

Don't sit down right away. If you are already very busy and do not have time, then pick up your documents and continue reading while standing (as one of the options).

- At the same time, rise and fall on your toes several times.

- Rotate the body several times in different directions.

- Without stopping looking at documents or a monitor, bend over and stretch your lower back, make several tilts (keep your back straight).

- Tired? You can sit down and continue working.

Now let's move on to the legs. They're not busy, are they?

You can do leg exercises as often as you like. Stretch, spread, strain the muscles of the legs, press the pedal (foot work), while the knee joint will make small movements. Perform these exercises alternately and with both feet together. You can even tango under the table with your feet. Nobody sees.

In my opinion, everything is simple. If you wish, you can easily diversify this set of exercises. Note that I do not give the number of times or the number of approaches: just do as many as you see fit. It's better than just sitting in one place all day without moving.

And after work, you will find training or a gym, yoga, horseback riding, shooting at a shooting range, dancing, martial arts, wushu, ballet, etc. etc. Well, do not forget about your loved ones, dates, cinema, theater, walks.

If you already have problems with cartilage, you can not forget about it. But it’s also not worth it to completely limit yourself in everything and think about it all the time. Change your life a little, add more movement, consume the necessary substances, eat well and live on. And all this will only diversify and enrich life, make it healthier and longer. No need to justify yourself and say: “I have no time. I'm busy (busy). We have to do the job."

I usually give this example. Imagine a smart workaholic scientist. He sits day and night, writes, opens, works, does not see the light of day, forgets not only to move, but even to drink and eat. A little more and he will finally invent a perpetual motion machine or prove how to defeat an incurable disease. They support him, waiting for the results. And then bam, the body can not stand it. Stroke. I wonder why? The person is dying. His works have not been completed, the disease has not been defeated, and the perpetual motion machine has not been invented. Everything he did was unnecessary: the result was never achieved. But there was not enough time, as usual, just a little bit. Like this. And it's one thing if our scientist is 90 years old. And if 50? He did not have time and ruined himself, and we did not receive a great revelation or healing.

Let's move on to the issue of returning to activity after an injury. Usually, after operations on the knee joints and cartilage, doctors say something like: "By the way, chess is also a sport." The phrase is deadly, especially if there were any plans, hopes and goals. For professional athletes, this is generally scary. For us, ordinary people who are also doing something, hearing this is also painful.

Firstly, I must say that ordinary doctors forbid everything, so if you play sports and you have an injury, you need to contact sports doctors who deal with sports injuries. There the situation and opinions will not be so categorical. I remember once in the clinic I went at the same time to the gastroenterologist and complained that heartburn sometimes occurs, there was such a period. I was forbidden to do everything: bending, bending, it is strictly forbidden to swing the press, etc. Well, how do you like it? By the way, it was worth starting to drink more water and the problem with heartburn self-destructed. My coach tells me the same thing about the doctor.

Secondly, the main advice is a gradual, deliberate approach to your studies. Both rehabilitation, after an injury, and the main one related to your sport. Loads should be consistent, gradually becoming more complex. You feel pain has appeared - so far this is your limit. Pain cannot be overcome. Trust your body, it will tell you and you will feel that you can already do more.

Another issue worth devoting a separate article to is psychological state after trauma. This is what worries me the most right now. Here, too, the only way is consistency and slowness. The body could do something more, and the brain will gradually understand it. So, step by step, step by step, you will return to your former life and workload. Of course, everything happens and there are injuries that you need to come to terms with and accept, reconsider your life and previous activity. But let's not think about it. Positive thoughts and attitude play a huge and often decisive role in any human activity.

Non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs

Now, as for the tablets, the so-called anti-inflammatory painkillers non-hormonal drugs. It has long been proven that such tablets adversely affect the cartilaginous tissue of the joint and gradually destroy it. Destruction occurs both under the influence of the chemicals themselves, and the fact that having anesthetized and not feeling the pain signal from the knee, you load it, which provokes even greater mechanical destruction. These drugs can be used occasionally, in moments of acute intolerable pain. Then it's justified. And as soon as the opportunity arises, it is necessary to quickly go to the doctor for examination and finding out the reasons.

The same applies to injections with similar drugs into the joints. This also includes hormonal drugs. Only in extreme cases, when the doctor has accurately determined that the benefits will be higher than the harm from such an injection, only then is the use of such funds justified. It can be an infectious infection or a strong, persistent inflammatory process.

Folk remedies for the treatment of cartilage and joints

As you understand, this issue, especially when it comes to traumatic injuries, is completely irrelevant. I think that on the Internet you can always find a large number of folk remedies to relieve pain and treat joints. But we must understand that any tincture, wrapping the knee with a cabbage leaf or rubbing the injured joint with a decoction of burdock will not solve the problems. These remedies are good later, when you know the causes of pain, and when the doctors have done everything they could. They will help relieve a slight swelling, cool, warm up, reduce weather pain that occurs in a damaged joint. Folk remedies can replace expensive creams from pharmacies, designed to warm up the joint and thereby increase the flow of additional nutrients to the sore spot. These are very valuable remedies invented by nature, but you need to know when you can take them and hope for their effect. I am also against any chemistry and pills that heal and cripple at the same time. That is why, when choosing products and supplements for myself, I am guided by their natural natural origin and the absence of side effects.

That's all. I think it's time to finish and no longer load you with information.

I'll make a little announcement. I feel that the time has come to write a whole series of articles about various substances and supplements that are necessary both for the whole body and for our joints. Gradually, step by step, I will try to take it all apart and give it to you. So subscribe to the blog, read and apply.

If you have any questions, please write and comment. But do not forget about some of the principles that are given in the article about. I am not a doctor, but as a person who has endured and experienced a lot, as they say "in the subject" and I can quite help with questions that doctors usually do not answer.

All the best, don't worry!

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The appearance of discomfort in a particular joint can disturb a person after 30-35 years. Most often, discomfort is associated with microcracks and various growths on the cartilage that covers the head of the joint - a natural shock absorber designed to compensate for the load during movement. After conducting diagnostic examinations, the specialist selects and recommends the optimal preparations for restoring the cartilage tissue of the joints.

Every year, according to medical statistics, there is a significant increase in the number of patients who apply for damage to the articular structures, difficulty in movement, and performance of work duties. Therefore, it is so important to start treatment with modern and effective medicines in a timely manner.

Stages of cartilage destruction

Criteria for choosing medications

The shock-absorbing properties of cartilage tissue are given by the intercellular substance located inside each joint. Its components are necessarily glucosamine, chondroitin and prostaglandins. Intra-articular synovial fluid with the above components washes the head of the joint, contributing to its regeneration.

When degenerative-dystrophic processes occur in the articular structures, the amount of necessary synovial fluid is much less than required - the cartilage begins to break down, grow pathologically, osteochondrosis and osteoarthritis are formed.

The structure of the joint

In order for the restoration of the cartilage tissue of the joints in the patient to occur in a short time and without negative consequences, the specialist is guided by the following selection criteria:

which subgroup the agent belongs to - for anti-inflammatory therapy, analgesic, for cartilage restoration;
single drug or combination drug;
what is the active substance - synthetic or extract of medicinal plants;
the presence of individual contraindications to taking the medication;
what is the mechanism of action of the agent on the human body;
the time of appearance of the expected result, the optimal frequency and duration of taking the drug.

Osteocondritis of the spine

A medicine for restoring the cartilage tissue of the joints is prescribed only by a specialist - self-medication can lead to unwanted complications and consequences. The drugs of choice in this case are chondroprotectors.

Positive properties of chondroprotectors

Numerous studies have convincingly proven that the course of taking chondroprotective drugs allows you to achieve the following positive aspects:

optimal nutrition of the cartilaginous membrane;
full launch of the processes of formation of new own cells of the joint;
excellent stimulation of synovial fluid synthesis;
a quickly noticeable decrease in the intensity of pain;
reduction or complete elimination of inflammatory processes in tissues.

In any pharmacy network today you can buy chondroprotectors in various forms - for injections, oral administration, in the form of ointments and gels for topical use.

The main representatives of chondroprotectors

Popular and effective, with a huge number of positive reviews, are the following drugs:

In case of detection of osteochondrosis or osteoarthrosis, the specialist is one of the first to recommend taking the drug Artra - thanks to chondroitin sulfate, it contributes to the speedy elimination of microdamages on the shell of the joints. Produced by the manufacturer in tablet form.

Preparation Artra

Artron Flex - the active substance is glucosamine, which contributes to the optimal prevention of cartilage microdamage processes, and is also able to counteract the active destruction of the joint itself. The drug is presented in the form of tablets.
A drug belonging to the first generation of chondroprotectors - Alflutop. It is made from a specific type of fish, so it has the ability to enhance the production of type 2 collagen, as well as hyaluronic acid. Available as a solution for injection.
Don's drug. Available in the form of a powder for injection, as well as in the form of tablets. To the positive aspects, experts attribute its ability not only to restore the cartilaginous tissue of the joint, but also to stop local foci of inflammation.
Rumalon - is an extract from the bone marrow, as well as the cartilage of young calves. It is used by injection - the duration of the treatment course is determined only by a specialist.

Drug Rumalon

Structum - contributes to the correction of metabolic processes in the structure of the cartilage, as well as in the joint bag, due to which the joint returns its former mobility. Produced by the manufacturer in capsules.
Chondroitin sulfate has the most beneficial effect on the restoration of cartilage elements. It is produced both in the form of an independent ointment with one component, and in combination with other active substances.
Elbon drug. Promotes the production of its own hyaluronic acid by the cells of the joint. It also has a pronounced analgesic and effective anti-inflammatory effect. Produced by the manufacturer in the form of a solution for injection.
Teraflex. The main active ingredients - chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride - are aimed at stimulating the healing of cartilage microdamages, as well as regulating metabolic processes in it. The drug is mainly presented in the form of capsules.
Fermatron is a substitute for intraarticular fluid. It effectively balances the volume of synovial fluid, according to the needs of the patient's body, contributes to a significant slowdown of negative processes in the joint.

Drug Fermatron

Contraindications

Like all medicines, preparations for the restoration of cartilage tissue of the joints have their own characteristics of administration and contraindications:

the period of bearing a baby and lactation;
children's category of patients up to 12 years;
individual increased susceptibility to the components of the drug;
ankylosis of the joints - no positive effect in this case should be expected - the cartilage is already completely destroyed.

Pregnancy is a contraindication to the use of chondroprotectors

With extreme caution, chondroprotectors are prescribed for patients with a history of severe pathologies from the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys.

Only a competent specialist can entrust the selection of the optimal remedy for correcting the condition of the cartilaginous tissue of the joints - they will choose the dose of the drug, its form of release, and the duration of the treatment course.

To prevent the development and exclude a possible recurrence of diseases of the joints and spine, a course of chondroprotectors is recommended.

Many degenerative diseases of the supporting apparatus are classified as cartilage damage, which subsequently leads to the formation of severe pain and difficulty in mobility. In this case, doctors often prescribe chondroprotectors for the joints to their patients. However, it is worth noting that the drugs are effective at the initial stage of the disease, at a late stage they will not have any result.

What are chondroprotectors? Chondroprotectors are drugs that act on the area where the problem is located. The active ingredients help reduce the amount of effusion in the joint bag.

It is worth noting that chondroprotectors are names that connect a diverse group of medications and biological additives. These drugs contribute to the dynamic restoration and preservation of the integrity of the cartilage. Of course, the treatment takes a lot of time, you need a course of at least 2 months. The constituent substances of chondroprotectors are chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine. Tablets also have auxiliary components: antioxidants, vitamins, minerals.

Are chondroprotectors effective? Taking drugs helps to reduce inflammation, normalizes the overall structure of porous cartilage tissue. As a result, the pain begins to subside. A feature of these funds is that they do not contribute to the development of new tissues, but to the regeneration of old cartilage. But, an effective result will be if there is at least a small layer of cartilage in the damaged joint.

Medicines can be used together with analgesics. With changing pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, these tablets will have an effective result only when the disease is in the initial stage of development.

Classification of drugs

The classification of chondroprotectors is divided by composition, generation, method of application.

The first classification divides these funds according to the time they were introduced into medicine, consists of 3 generations:

I generation (Alflutop, Rumalon, Mukartrin, Arteparon) - products of natural origin, consist of plant extracts, animal cartilage;
II generation - the composition includes hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine; very good drugs are produced by the pharmaceutical company Evalar;
III generation - a combined remedy - chondroitin sulfate + hydrochloride.

Another chondroprotectors, their classification is divided into groups, depending on their composition:

drugs, the main substance of which is chondroitin (Chondrolon, Chondrex, Mucosat, Structum);
mucopolysaccharides (Arteparon);
preparations consisting of a natural extract of animal cartilage (Alflutop, Rumalon);
drugs with glucosamine (Don, Artron flex);
the best chondroprotectors of complex action (Teraflex, Artron complex, Formula-C).

There is also a classification, in the essence of which their release form is located:

injection chondroprotectors (Elbon, Chondrolon, Moltrex, Adgelon), any of these injections are more effective than capsules, tablets, since they begin their action immediately; intramuscular injection is used; course of treatment - 10-20 days for 1 injection, then treatment with tablets continues;
capsules, tablets (Dona, Structum, Artra, Teraflex), their characteristic feature is that they begin to act only after 2-3 months, but after half a year an excellent result is observed; despite the fact that these drugs are used for a long time, they are normally tolerated by the body and have practically no side effects;
substitutes for the fluid present in the joint (Fermatron, Sinocrom, Ostenil, Synvisc), they are used by direct injection into the joint; the course of treatment is usually 3-5 injections, but it happens that the desired result is already noticeable after the first injection; if you need the need for re-treatment, then this is possible only after six months.

The list of chondroprotectors is quite diverse, so you do not need to select them yourself. You should first visit a doctor, he will prescribe the right medicine, because in each situation it is selected individually for each person.

Indications and contraindications

So, chondroprotectors can be used for the prevention and treatment of such diseases:

cervical, thoracic, lumbar osteochondrosis;
periodontal disease;
traumatic joint disorders;
arthrosis (gonarthrosis, coxarthrosis);
periarthritis, arthritis;
postoperative period;
dystrophic lesions in the cartilage.

The use of these drugs is not always possible. There are the following contraindications:

pregnancy, during lactation;
an allergic reaction to the components of the drug;
the last stage of dystrophic, degenerative diseases of the skeletal system;
children under 12 years of age.

With forethought, use natural chondroprotectors in violation of the digestive system.

Any drug should be used only as prescribed by a doctor. In order for chondroprotectors to have a favorable result from the joints, they must be used at an early stage in the development of the disease. The patient must follow the following guidelines:

no need to load the damaged joint very much;
a person should not be too full, with a decrease in body weight, joint pain also decreases;
do not make movements with a load on the damaged joint;
do not overcool the lower limbs;
conduct physical therapy;
do not forget about rest;
good for hiking.

Diseases for which they are used

These remedies can treat the following pathologies:

Osteochondrosis. For the treatment of the disease, chondroprotectors are used for oral administration (Don, Honda Evalar, Teraflex, Artra, etc.). They restore damaged cartilage tissue, relieve pain. In combination with other means, their effectiveness increases.
Arthritis. They use drugs (Chondroxide, Dona, Structum) along with anti-inflammatory, painkillers. Systematic treatment helps to reduce swelling, pain, stiffness of the joints. In case of damage to large joints (knees), intra-articular injections are used.
Arthrosis. Effective chondroprotectors for the treatment of arthrosis (Artron flex, Dona, Honda Evalar, Alflutop) stimulate the production of intra-articular fluid, normalize its lubricating effects.
Coxarthrosis. It is better to choose drugs that contain glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate (Teraflex, Chondroxide), they activate the renewal of cartilage, improve metabolism.

List of the most effective

What chondroprotectors can have an effective effect and how to choose? You can select a list of drugs of the best drugs for therapy and restoration of joints:

How to use?

You can see the positive effect of the use of these funds only when the therapeutic course is long (about six months at least).

You also need to know that, together with these drugs, you need to use anti-inflammatory drugs, do massage, physiotherapy, follow a diet, and monitor your weight.

Numerous studies have confirmed the high safety of chondroprotectors in case of consumption of the recommended dose. They have no side effects, except for possible allergic reactions. Drugs are excreted through the kidneys, regardless of the route of administration.