What is arthritis?

Knee arthritis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the destruction of the structural elements of the joint. It usually affects middle-aged and older people. Its main symptoms are pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joint, while it can significantly affect the patient’s quality of life by making his daily life difficult. The most common form of knee arthritis is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is due to the progressive degeneration of the elements of the knee, mainly the articular cartilage. Other common forms of arthritis are rheumatoid and post-traumatic.

What are the symptoms of the disease?

In the initial stages of the disease, the pain is usually more intense in the morning and subsides during the day. Progressively the pain becomes more and more intense and worsens with activities such as walking while in the later stages it becomes constant. Many patients complain of severe worsening of pain with the change of weather and especially with humidity.

The diagnosis of osteoarthritis is made by taking a detailed history and clinical examination while it is confirmed by radiological control. Rarely, an MRI is necessary to accurately visualize the joint.

Conservative treatment or surgery?

Unfortunately, there is no treatment that can restore the knee to its previous state. In the early stages of the disease, symptoms can subside with conservative measures. These include avoiding activities that exacerbate pain (such as long hours of walking or using stairs) while encouraging activities that strengthen the muscles that stabilize the knee.

Pharmaceutically, the intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid, either alone or in combination with cortisone or platelet-rich plasma (PRP), can limit symptoms and perhaps slow the progression of disease.

In cases of more advanced disease or when conservative treatment fails, surgical treatment is recommended, with the aim of improving the patient’s quality of life. Arthroplasty is the operation in which an orthopedist replaces the worn surface of the knee with a special prosthesis. With the new minimally invasive techniques as well as the fast track surgery protocols, the patient’s hospitalization is minimized, blood loss and post-operative pain are reduced while ensuring a faster return to daily activities.

In recent years there has been a revolution in the field of knee arthroplasty with the introduction of robotics. During robotically assisted knee arthroplasty a three-dimensional model of the patient’s knee is created with the help of a CT scan. The surgeon using this model preoperatively personalizes the operation to the anatomy and needs of the specific patient. Then the orthopedist, with the help of the robotic arm, proceeds with extreme precision in the preparation of the bone and the placement of the materials.

What is the meniscus?

The meniscus is a hard but at the same time elastic structure composed mainly of water and collagen fibers. Each knee has two menisci, the medial and the external. The menisci have an extremely important role in the function of the knee by increasing the contact surface between the two bones, while at the same time stabilizing the knee and at the same time absorbing shocks during loading, making the movement of the joint smoother. A meniscus tear is one of the most common knee conditions.

How does a meniscus tear happen?

Meniscal tears are classified into acute and degenerative. Acute lesions usually occur in young patients, mainly athletes. Usually these patients experience acute pain with swelling of the knee and possibly “locking” of the joint. Degenerative tears concern older patients, due to the “aging” of the tissue with loss of elasticity. Usually patients report a mild mechanism of injury (simply standing or deep sitting), while it is not uncommon for patients to have recurrent episodes of knee edema (swelling) with relatively mild pain without any significant prior injury.

Treatment of meniscal tears

A meniscal tear can be treated conservatively or surgically, depending on whether it is of acute or degenerative etiology. As a rule, small tears of degenerative etiology can be treated conservatively for a period of about 2-3 months. Conservative treatment includes rest, short-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, modification of patient activities, cryotherapy, and rehabilitation with physical therapy and muscle strengthening. After this period and appropriate recovery, a large number of patients become asymptomatic. However, a percentage of patients continue to have symptoms despite conservative treatment. If the pain or swelling persists and makes the patient’s daily life difficult, then surgical treatment of the problem is indicated.

Acute tears in young patients require, with very few exceptions, surgical treatment with the arthroscopy method. Arthroscopy is a modern surgery, with which the orthopedist, through a small incision of about 5 millimeters, inserts a camera connected to a fiber optic lens (arthroscope) and sees in magnification each intra-articular damage with excellent accuracy. Then, from one or more additional incisions of the same length, with the help of special surgical instruments depending on the occasion and with extreme precision of movements, he intervenes to correct it. During surgery, either an attempt is made to save the meniscus (Save the meniscus!) by suturing the damage, or the injured part of the meniscus is removed (partial meniscectomy). The choice of treatment depends on the location and consequently the blood supply of the torn part of the meniscus, as well as the morphology and age of the lesion.

Clinical Pilates

Clinical Pilates is a form of exercise that works the body in a safe and fun way. It is a form of exercise that strengthens and tones muscles, improves posture and increases flexibility, while at the same time coordinating and balancing body and mind.

Clinical Pilates is the evolution of the pilates method. It is an ideal exercise for patients with musculoskeletal or other (neurological, gynecological) problems as training programs are personalized based on needs and any limitations, avoiding any injuries.

A detailed history is taken before a comprehensive exercise program is drawn up. At the same time, the musculoskeletal system and the physical condition of the trainee are evaluated, so that the program can be personalized to his capabilities and needs.

The Pilates program includes floor exercises and exercises on specialized pilates equipment.

Some indicative diseases where Clinical Pilates is indicated are the following:

• Lumbago
• Sciatica
• Cervical syndrome
• Trigger Points
• Muscle Spasms
• Athletic injuries
• Shoulder Rotator Cuff Syndrome
• Symphytic Bursitis (Frozen Shoulder)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Meniscus and Patella Diseases

TECAR Therapy

What is Tecar treatment?

The Tecar treatment is an innovative treatment that can be applied to many conditions, revolutionizing the field of rehabilitation.

Its name comes from the initials of the words Transfer Electricity Capacitive and Resistive, and essentially it is a device that transfers energy to the tissues of our body. Tecar treatment can be used both during the acute and chronic phase of a disease. The method is extremely effective, since the patient immediately perceives the benefits of the treatment, while the reduction of the patient’s pain and the increase in the range of motion, from the very first session, is remarkable.

The treatment is individualized to the problem of each patient, while as a rule a therapeutic treatment of 8 to 10 sessions, at a rate of 2 to 3 sessions per week, brings about immediate and permanent results in tissue reorganization.

When can Tecar treatment be applied?

The indications for the application of Tecar Therapy are numerous.

It is particularly effective in the rehabilitation of sports injuries as it provides immediate relief in acute musculoskeletal injuries, while offering the athlete a faster and more effective return to physical exercise.

The Tecar treatment is of course not only used for people involved in sports, but also for a large number of diseases, as research has shown positive results in a wide range of pathologies, such as arthritis.

Specifically, Tecar treatment can be applied in the following cases:

• Muscle Injuries and Fractures
• Ligament Injuries
• Tendonitis
• Arthritis
• Fractures
• Sprains
• Lumbago
• Muscle Spasms
• Cervical syndrome
• Tennis Elbow
• Trigger Points
• Symphytic Bursitis (Frozen Shoulder)
• Osteoarthritis
• Lymphedema