"Knee Extension" Strategy

What is knee osteoarthritis?

Knee osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, osteoarthritis, hyperplastic arthritis, etc., is characterized by degenerative changes in the knee cartilage and secondary bone hyperplasia, which causes knee pain. Some patients will experience varying degrees of joint stiffness and instability, leading to functional impairment or loss, and sometimes local bone spur formation. It is more common in middle-aged and elderly people (more common in people over 50 years old), and more common in women than in men.

What are the common triggers?

Advanced age, injuries, excessive load on the knee joint leading to wear and tear, incorrect posture or activities.

What are the clinical manifestations?

Joint pain, stiffness, swelling, popping, clicking noises, joint deformities, or muscle wasting.

How much do you know about the precautions?

1. Pay attention to keeping your knee joints warm, try to wear long pants or knee pads, and do not expose your knee joints directly to cold air.

2. Pay attention to the combination of work and rest, avoid excessive weight on joints, and do not sit or stand for long periods of time. You can do knee stretching exercises and use your hands to assist when standing up.

3. Pay attention to diet, control weight, and consume more foods containing protein, vitamins and minerals.

4. Choose a chair of appropriate height and avoid sitting on a low chair or kneeling.

How much do you know about rehabilitation treatment measures?

Focus on treating pain and protecting joints, and follow the principle of step-by-step training.

1. Acupuncture

The local meridian points and Ashi points are mainly used, that is, the patient's Zusanli, Weizhong, Xuehai, Xiyan and other acupoints are selected. The appropriate needle is selected according to the patient's physique and the depth of the acupuncture site. The treatment is carried out with the method of equal supplementation and equal drainage. Moxibustion treatment is performed when the needle is left in. The needle is removed after the moxa stick is burned out. Once a day, 10 days is a course of treatment.

2. Strengthen knee strength training

(1) Straight Leg Raise

The patient lies on his back, straightens the affected knee and raises it 30-40 cm, holds it as long as possible, puts it down and rests for a while, repeats the exercise, 10-15 times per set, twice a day. If you can hold it for more than 1 minute, you can do weight-bearing straight leg raising exercises.

(2) Weighted straight leg raise

The movements are the same as above, but you should put a certain weight on the instep of your foot, starting from 1 kg and gradually increasing to 5 kg. If you can hold on for more than 1 minute, you can proceed to the next step of the exercise.

3. Strengthen knee range of motion training

(1) Kneeling position with knees bent

The patient kneels on the bed and presses backwards to increase the knee flexion angle.

(2) Sitting position with knees hanging and swinging flexion and extension

The patient sits on the edge of the bed with the affected calf hanging down, and uses the healthy limb to help press the affected limb to increase flexion.