Knee osteoarthritis - Gonarthrosis

It is a chronic disease of the knee joint, in which the cartilage covering the bones wears out and causes friction and subsequent deterioration of the bones.

There are multiple triggers: excess weight, advanced age, menopause, genetic factors, intense physical activity, work activity that requires constant flexion and extension of the joint, traumas and lesions to the knee.

It manifests with pain, limited movement, stiffness (mainly in the morning), crackling and/or swelling of the joint.

Diagnosis is made based on clinical history and physical examination. Imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs and/or an ultrasound will be done to complete the study.

The treatment aims to relieve pain and inflammation with analgesic and antiinflammatory drugs. Medications are used for cartilage protection (hyaluronic acid, glucosamine sulphate, etc) and rehabilitation therapy. Excess weight should be corrected if it exists and proper ergonomics should be promoted in the workplace. If the previous treatments fail, surgery can be considered as a last resource and a prosthesis inserted.

If you have any of these symptoms, visit a specialist to treat them and stop the progression of osteoarthritis.