INNOVATIONS IN KINESITHERAPEUTIC PRACTICE IN CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT OF GONARTHROSIS

Abstract

Gonarthrosis is a chronic progressive disease that imposes a significant socioeconomic burden on society and health care systems (Dantas, Salvini, McAlindon, 2020). Worldwide, this disease is the most common. Due to an increase in the number of people with obesity, the prevalence of gonarthrosis is expected to increase further in the coming decades (Kloek et al, 2018). Although treating physicians generally recommend pharmacotherapy for osteoarthritis, concerns about its effectiveness and associations with adverse effects are growing. Doubts about the use of pharmaceuticals for osteoarthritis have increased interest in therapies perceived to be safer. (Perlman et al, 2019). Since cartilage degeneration is irreversible, control from an early stage throughout life is important for treatment (Toyoda, Maehara, Watanabe, Sato, 2021). Telerehabilitation can be a good opportunity to improve access to rehabilitation for people in rural and remote areas (Davis, 2012). Objective: The objective is to investigate innovations in kinesitherapeutic practice in the conservative treatment of gonarthrosis. Materials and methods: Materials and Methods: The following modern kinesiotherapeutic methods for reducing pain and swelling in knee osteoarthritis were examined: cryotherapy, kinesiotaping, and manual soft tissue mobilization or "manipulative mobilizing massage according to J. C. Terrier." Modern approaches applied for muscle contractures and limited range of motion in knee osteoarthritis included "Ergon IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization)," Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR) according to Levit, and stretching. Discussion: Characteristic dysfunctions in gonarthrosis are: swelling, pain, limited range of motion in the knee joint, myo articular contractures, muscle imbalance, muscle hypotrophy, altered patellofemoral Q angle, dysfunctions in locomotor activity (walking, going up and down stairs) and other. For the effective implementation of kinesitherapy, the correct selection of kinesitherapeutic agents to slow down the progression of the disease depending on the accompanying diseases, the degree of damage and other factors is very important. Conclusion: The conducted study explores innovations in kinesiotherapeutic practice in the conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis. The investigated modern methods have their own specificities.