Therapeutic exercise for various joint diseases always has a good effect in combination with drug treatment and physiotherapy.

There is a special set of exercises designed specifically for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

Exercise therapy for rheumatoid arthritis can be performed at home. But a set of exercises for arms or legs is always selected by a specialist. Gymnastics will not be able to ensure complete recovery for rheumatoid arthritis, only stop its progression and reduce the manifestation of symptoms.

The main rule is that a set of exercises should be performed regularly, but without overload, slowly and carefully, so as not to cause pain or discomfort.

How to properly perform physical therapy for rheumatoid arthritis

Gymnastics for rheumatoid arthritis will never be beneficial in the acute stage of the disease, with progressive inflammation and severe pain.

In addition, the set of exercises should not be performed if pathologies of the lungs, heart, liver or kidneys are noted along the way.

Sports are very beneficial for joints, but active activities should be postponed if, in addition to arthritis, the patient is diagnosed with:

• Infectious diseases of various nature;
• Impaired functions of the heart and blood vessels, congenital or acquired;
• Pulmonary failure.

A set of exercises is designed for three stages of the disease:

1. For patients suffering from severe disease.
2. For those who have undergone surgery
3. For the rehabilitation period, when it is important to restore range of motion and prevent relapse of the disease.

In this case, group sports are very effective. It is noted that it is easier for patients both morally and physically if classes are conducted in groups rather than individually. That’s why doctors always form groups of people who will benefit from the same complex.

Stages of physical therapy for arthritis

Why is it important that exercise therapy for rheumatoid arthritis be performed regularly? The fact is that the loads are given strictly in doses, at first they are minimal, then gradually increase. The patient’s condition and the course of the disease play a decisive role in drawing up the program.

The number of exercises is increased only if the patient’s health is satisfactory and he does not feel pain or tension while doing it. Therefore, in most cases, it is better to conduct the first classes in a hospital or rehabilitation center.

The main stages of physical therapy for arms and legs:

1. Preparation. At this stage, the patient learns proper breathing. Sports are effective only if muscle tissue is fully saturated with oxygen. If you breathe incorrectly, the effectiveness of the exercises will be much lower. Every day, 10 minutes are allotted for breathing exercises, the duration of this stage is two weeks.
2. Basic complex. The duration of one session is 30 minutes, exercises are performed under medical supervision for two weeks.
3. Consolidating stage. After discharge, the doctor teaches the patient exercises for the arms, legs and back, which he must perform independently at home in order to consolidate the achieved effect and prevent the recurrence of the disease.

Sport helps cope with joint disease, but the effectiveness of exercise will be higher if it is combined with massage. Typically, a hand or foot massage session is carried out before exercise therapy classes. This helps warm up the muscles and develop joints.

There are no drugs that can be equal in their effect and benefits to regular and correct exercises from therapeutic gymnastics. They cannot be replaced with anything else. Therefore, patients should not neglect this auxiliary treatment method.

Another big advantage: exercise therapy can be performed in a lying position. This is important for those people who cannot move and are forced to remain in bed.

Active sports with heavy loads are prohibited by medicine at this stage of the disease. But you can do some exercises for your arms, neck and legs while staying in bed.

In this case, a special bed is needed, equipped with a mobile backrest, a special arm and leg rest and an orthopedic mattress.

Basic set of exercises

Special sets of exercises have been compiled for joints of different groups: arms, legs, back. The optimal treatment would be in which the patient, while at home, alternates performing various complexes throughout the day. This way the loads are distributed evenly and none of the joints suffer.

If rheumatoid arthritis of the hands is diagnosed, you need not only to perform exercises, but also to monitor the correct position and movements of the hands at rest or when performing household tasks.

For example, it is advisable not to move the upper phalanges towards the little fingers. And if the hand is at rest, keep your fingers straight and not bent.

There are special office supplies adapted specifically for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis of the hands. The body of the handles is made in the shape of a cone. Then it is comfortable for the patient to hold it and at the same time you can use it to perform special exercises for the arms.

For successful treatment, it is important that the patient’s body is in the correct position even during night sleep. For this purpose, it is recommended to wear special bandages and orthoses. In this case, the affected joints will be securely fixed and protected even during night sleep.

For rheumatoid arthritis of the hands, the action of a set of exercises is aimed at preventing the development of the disease and deformation of small joints. The following simple exercises give good results:

• Place your palms on the table surface and turn them over, palms up, then down;
• Slowly clench and unclench your fists;
• In the same position, slowly rotate your hands.

Many patients benefit from exercises with an elastic ball - it can be squeezed and rolled, this strengthens joints and ligaments. Others prefer joint exercises with a stick. But it is important not to overload the joints and avoid intense exercise.

Often preference is given to performing exercises in water. Doctors recommend doing exercises three times a day. The room should be ventilated; in the warm season, you can perform gymnastics outside.

A doctor should always be nearby to monitor the patient’s exercise, breathing and pulse.

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Methods and stages of classes

Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease. It occurs due to the destruction of joint tissue by the person’s own immune system. Why this happens is still not known, which is why treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is a complex and lengthy process. In addition to taking medications, the body needs support in the form of physical activity, but heavy loads and professional sports are not suitable here.

There are three main methods of exercise therapy for rheumatoid arthritis:

1. Individual training, including with a personal trainer.
2. Group classes.
3. Independent training at home according to the schemes previously recommended by the attending physician.

In order to understand that the exercises are performed correctly, you need to follow these conditions:

• training should be regular;
• You can’t work on just one muscle group;
• there is no need for intensive training, which will only harm the body.

You need to conduct classes in three stages, like any other gymnastics:

1. The preparatory stage when you can rub the body with your hands, thereby warming the muscles.
2. The main stage of performing the exercises.
3. The final stage or relaxation, during which the body should relax and breathing should return to normal.

Set of exercises

Let's talk about the exercises themselves. They can be performed even while lying down if the patient is not able to move much during the period of illness. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect the hip and leg joints. In this case, the exercises are performed in a lying position on a hard mattress. It is important to note that most often the joints of the hands are affected by this disease. Let's start with them.

For brushes

If the hands are affected by this type of arthritis, the patient cannot work and becomes disabled. But joint deformation can be postponed for a while with the help of physical therapy. In this case, the development of the disease will not be so rapid.

In this case, the hand needs rest; the patient can use special restraints at night. Let's imagine a few exercises for the hands:

These simple exercises will be useful for your hands. You can also spend a few minutes a day running knots on a ribbon or up and down a stick with your fingers.

For legs

Leg exercises are also important. A sample list is presented below:

For the shoulder girdle

The patient must understand that it is important to maintain rhythm when performing each exercise. This is good for both the heart and blood vessels. Exercises for the upper limbs:

• starting position - standing, feet shoulder-width apart, make circular movements with your shoulders forward and then back. You can perform the exercise by placing your fingers on your shoulders;
• placing your palms on your shoulders, simultaneously moving your elbows forward and back;
• clasp your body with your arms as tightly as possible, imitating a hug, stay in this position for a few seconds;
• while lying on your back, raise both arms up and lower them.

For ankle

Rheumatoid arthritis rarely affects the ankle, but exercise is important to prevent the disease and strengthen the muscles. Below is a set of exercises:

If the exercises are performed without difficulty, you can gradually increase the rhythm and their number. However, you shouldn’t put too much strain on yourself. If you have any doubts, you can consult your doctor for advice.

Swimming for rheumatoid arthritis

Swimming is a great sport, everyone knows about it. But with rheumatoid arthritis, the patient is not always sure whether he can go to the pool.

Swimming is a great way to strengthen your joints, develop your back, and build muscle mass without much stress. For rheumatoid arthritis, swimming lessons are indicated, but they must be performed according to the rules:

• the water in the pool should be warm, because cold can only aggravate the patient’s situation;
• start classes with short swimming for 15 minutes, and then gradually increase the load;
• You can do exercises in the water with a ball or a swimming board.

Contraindications

It is important to note that if the patient has one of the contraindications listed below, he should not perform the exercises:

1. Rheumatoid arthritis stage III.
2. Damage to organs other than joints by an autoimmune mechanism.
3. General contraindications (for example, concomitant heart disease).

In all other cases, exercise therapy for rheumatoid arthritis is indicated for the patient. For those who have contraindications, the doctor always recommends being treated with a “position”. This means that the patient should sleep only on a hard mattress, often changing his sleeping position, try to sit up on his own using special devices, and perform exercises with a soft ball. This is quite enough for prevention.

Exercise therapy for rheumatoid arthritis is indicated for almost all patients; minor physical activity should not be avoided.

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Let's start with contraindications

Firstly, you should not engage in sports that are accompanied by jumping and shaking. That is, playing football, wrestling, long jump and high jump will not bring any benefit. They will only put weakened joints at risk.

Secondly, even physical therapy should not be done during an exacerbation of the disease or during complications that damage internal organs.

What is good for patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

For such people, cycling, swimming, skiing, and possibly jogging, if permitted by a doctor, are suitable. It is best to give yourself physical activity regularly; for example, cycling is quite possible every day in the summer. In winter you can ski 2-3 times a week. Swimming and other types of water activities will be more useful if they are carried out in a special group with an instructor. In addition, there is always healthy competition and excitement in the company, which lifts your spirits and makes classes even more useful.

Physiotherapy exercises in most cases are prescribed by a doctor as one of the means of treatment. With this disease, it is aimed at strengthening the ligaments and muscles, which will better support the joints and allow an increase in range of motion. In addition, exercise therapy helps slow down pathological reactions and improve well-being.

Rules and approaches to classes

Various options are possible:

In severe cases, if the patient is on bed rest, a special set of exercises “position treatment” is developed. The patient changes the position of the limbs or body for a while, tensing certain muscle groups. Some people need outside help to perform even the simplest exercises. However, this is better than just lying there, “abandoning” yourself.

Basic Rules:

• Regularity of classes,
• Constant but gradual increase in load,
• Rational dosing of loads: after exercise you should feel a surge of strength and a decrease in stiffness.

What types of exercise will be beneficial?

• Stretching,
• Strength exercises, which can be with weights,
• General strengthening exercises.

Stretching is something that should be included in any routine. These exercises involve holding a position. Stretching is done on various muscle groups and improves joint mobility.

Strength exercises force the body to resist, which actively develops muscle strength. Strong muscles in case of joint problems make their work much easier and help maintain mobility longer. Strength exercises also promote normal calcium metabolism, which is very important for rheumatoid arthritis. Many patients experience thinning of the bones, which leads to their fragility and additional problems. This type of exercise can significantly improve the condition of the skeletal system.

General strengthening exercises are aimed at improving the functioning of the cardiovascular system, which means preventing complications, exacerbations and generally improving well-being.

tvoyaybolit.ru

One of the most common joint diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, most often attacks those who are still very far from retirement, and even children.

War with yourself

Anyone knows: immunity is supposed to protect us. But sometimes the opposite happens: immune cells, which are supposed to recognize and destroy “enemies,” attack the cells of their own body. Experts call these types of abnormalities autoimmune diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of them.

But why does the immune system seem to go crazy? This is still not completely clear to science. It has only been proven that “betrayal” of immunity can be transmitted genetically. However, this is not the cause of the disease, but only a risk factor. The command “Start!” may result from recent influenza, acute respiratory viral infection or a focus of infection, for example, chronic tonsillitis. Often the onset of the disease is triggered by stress.

Often the illness begins quite “innocently”: in the morning the fingers or toes become stiff, as if stiff. By the time I got up, washed, got dressed, had breakfast - everything seemed to go away. And the disease is gaining strength. The joints swell, turn red, and the pain lasts longer and longer. Over time, rheumatoid arthritis can “spread” to the ankle, knee, elbow joints, and sometimes the disease also affects internal organs: lungs, heart, liver, kidneys.

Take off your mask!

Making an accurate diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is not an easy task: at first, this disease skillfully disguises itself as other joint diseases. Therefore, at the first problem with joints, you need to go to a rheumatologist. The doctor will prescribe a general and biochemical blood test. What deviations should we be wary of? In a general blood test - an increase in ESR: this sign indicates an inflammatory process. Blood biochemistry will also tell you about alarming moments, for example, if the level of C-reactive protein, immunoglobulins, etc. is elevated.

Previously, rheumatoid factor was considered a specific “marker” of this disease. But it turned out that it can also be detected in some infectious, autoimmune diseases, and sometimes even in healthy people. And vice versa: in approximately 20-30% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, it appears only six months or later after the onset of the disease. Therefore, the patient is also prescribed a test for anticitrullinated protein. And you definitely need to take an x-ray of the hands, feet and pelvic bones.

How is it treated?

Emergency help. First of all, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Sometimes corticosteroids are prescribed in acute situations.

Basic therapy. These are “long-lasting” drugs that act on the mechanism of development of the disease, helping to suppress the activity of arthritis and prevent irreversible damage to the joints. They will not “go to work” immediately, but a month or more after the start of treatment. Therefore, experienced rheumatologists try to select them at an early stage of the disease and prescribe them in parallel with rapid relief drugs.

A relatively new class of drugs is biological agents: drugs developed by genetic engineering. They affect specific components of the immune system and have fewer side effects. But their widespread use has so far been hampered by their high cost.

When the exacerbation has passed, the affected joints are treated with physiotherapy: this can be electrophoresis, phonophoresis, therapeutic mud, paraffin baths, etc. Laser therapy also gives a good effect.

Only numbers

30-55 years - peak incidence of rheumatoid arthritis;

Women suffer from this disease 3-5 times more often than men;

after 10-15 years, in 90% of cases, the disease leads to disability if left untreated.

Important

5 rules of self-defense:

- do not suffer from flu and colds on your feet, treat infectious diseases to the end;

- maintain a normal weight;

- go in for sports;

- avoid hypothermia;

- if you have a serious stressful situation and you cannot cope with it on your own, seek help from a psychologist.

Prepared by: Sergey Koval

Based on materials from Medportal.ru

Publication date:

www.klbviktoria.com

Characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis

It is important! The very concept of rheumatoid arthritis means a whole group of diseases in which autoimmune (most often) damage to the joints is noted. The incidence of pathology, according to various estimates, ranges from 1.5 to 2% among the population. Moreover, about half of them are middle-aged and young.

There are two types of this disease:

• Primary joint disease. This is what the name rheumatoid arthritis refers to. In this case, the first word autoimmune is omitted, but is always meant. The fact is that this type of pathology is the most common. This also includes primary rheumatoid arthritis caused by specific causes. For example, gonorrheal and syphilitic arthritis. A distinctive feature of diseases of this group is the fact that they develop on completely intact joints. In addition, joint damage is symmetrical.
• Secondary pathology. The most common diseases in this group are arthrosis-arthritis and post-traumatic arthritis. These and similar pathologies develop in obviously altered joints. Although in the future their mechanism is similar to that of diseases of the first group.

Causes and pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis

The suspected causes of primary rheumatoid arthritis (because the exact causes have not yet been established) include the following:

• Gene-based or associated with abnormalities at the gene level. This is clearly illustrated by the frequent occurrence of the disease among close relatives.
• Viral factors. Most often, rheumatoid arthritis develops after herpetic, measles, hepatitis, mononucleosis and cytomegalovirus infections.
• Harmful environmental conditions. This is radiation, some heavy metals and their compounds, chronic infectious pathologies.

On the basis that primary arthritis does not have precisely established causes, a number of scientists insist on their multifactorial origin. That is, to begin the development of the process, a combination of causes and triggering factors is necessary, such as stress, hypothermia, and excessive sun exposure. These assumptions are clearly visible in the examples. Often, only one among relatives gets sick due to exposure to harmful factors. At the same time, non-relatives, being under the influence of all the same factors, do not suffer from this disease.

In any case, the pathogenesis of both primary and secondary arthritis is similar and consists of three main mechanisms:

1. The production of antibodies against antigens - connective tissue collagen.
2. Attachment of antibodies to antigens and initiation of actions against them by immune cells.
3. “Attack” of antigen-antibody complexes by the immune system and the development of autoimmune inflammation.

In secondary arthritis, the cause for the synthesis of antibodies is molecules of free collagen that enter the blood during the destruction of joints.

Exercising for joint pathologies

From all of the above, at first glance, physical exercise and sports are contraindicated for rheumatoid arthritis. Since this can lead to additional trauma to the joints and the penetration of collagen into the blood. Where antibodies are synthesized based on its structure.

However, today this attitude has been revised. The fact is that physical activity improves blood flow. This means that blood passes through the joints faster and the likelihood of antibodies settling on them is lower. In addition, good physical activity has a beneficial effect on the immune system, which reduces the likelihood of the accumulation of clones of defective lymphocytes that produce antibodies against collagen. Even with primary arthritis caused by genetic abnormalities, physical activity has a rather beneficial effect. Due to the fact that it not only increases blood flow in the joints, but also increases metabolic processes in all tissues. This promotes better collagen regeneration.

But still, rheumatoid arthritis has some limitations. All sports that place excessive stress on the joints and cause increased trauma are considered contraindicated. These are almost all types of athletics and weightlifting, gymnastics, football, hockey, skiing, wrestling. But the following are considered indicated for joint pathology: swimming, walking and gentle running, aerobics. The main factor is individual tolerance to physical activity.

Arthrosis Bubnovsky

With the development of an inflammatory reaction in a joint and the initiation of destructive changes in it, first of all, there is a violation of metabolic processes and tissue trophism in the pathological focus. An increase in the intensity of pathological manifestations is accompanied by the occurrence of pain, which leads to a significant limitation of mobility in the affected joint. However, a decrease in physical activity contributes to the aggravation of disease processes, thereby creating a vicious circle in the development of arthritis in the patient. Therefore, the concepts of arthritis and sports in medical practice are closely interrelated; when diagnosing such a disease, doctors insist on the mandatory use of exercise therapy methods in the treatment process.

“Physical activity for arthritis should be dosed and agreed upon with a qualified specialist.”

When any form of arthritis is detected, only the attending physician can select the optimal sports complex that the patient will perform for medicinal purposes. This is due to the need to apply dosed physical activity to the affected joint, since exceeding its permissible intensity leads to aggravation of pathological disorders. To do this, it is necessary to conduct a detailed examination of the patient using laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods in order to establish the stage of development of the disease and the exact localization of the source of inflammation.

There are certain requirements for conducting sports activities:

• It is forbidden to carry out physical training during periods of exacerbation of the pathological condition, since the additional load on the damaged joint contributes to an increase in the intensity of the inflammatory reaction.
• After the manifestations of arthritis are stopped and the disease again goes into remission, sports training should be resumed gradually, starting with minimal stress on the joints.
• During the lesson, the patient should not perform exercises that would result in axial loads being applied to the damaged joints.
• During training, significant bending of the damaged joints should be avoided.
• When performing physical therapy exercises, you should not take analgesics to reduce the intensity of pain, as this can lead to additional injuries to the damaged joint.
• Before starting a set of exercises, the joints and muscles must be prepared - massage them for several minutes, making circular movements.
• The patient should not perform exercises at the limit of his strength. If the feeling of fatigue increases, you need to take a short break from training. If performing any exercise is accompanied by intense pain in damaged joints, it must be excluded from the sports complex.

To make it easier to perform physical exercises, after pre-warming the damaged joints, it is advisable to do a short warm-up - perform a series of movements with a small amplitude in the joints affected by arthritis.

Kinds of sports

The use of physical therapy methods helps to normalize metabolic processes in the area of ​​inflammation, improve tissue trophism and increase the tone of muscle fibers surrounding the damaged joint. This allows the patient to increase the amplitude of movements in the inflamed joint.

“The best option for playing sports for arthritis is swimming.”

In addition to exercise therapy, during periods of remission of the disease, the functionality of the patient’s musculoskeletal system can be improved by engaging in sports such as:

• a ride on the bicycle;
• swimming lessons;
• skiing;
• in the initial stages of the development of a pathological condition, after prior agreement with the attending physician, it is permissible to jog.

Swimming for patients with arthritis is the most optimal sport, since the therapeutic effect for the affected joints is maintained while the intensity of additional loads decreases. But it is necessary to take seriously the issue of choosing the pool to visit, focusing, first of all, on the water temperature - conducting water aerobics in cold water provokes an aggravation of the disease process.

It is strictly forbidden for patients of any form of arthritis to carry out sports training, during which the patient’s musculoskeletal system is subjected to intense shock loads, concussions - football, wrestling, long or high jumps, and others.

Each patient diagnosed with joint arthritis has the opportunity to independently choose the most optimal option for sports training:

• Individual– most suitable for the category of patients with advanced forms of the pathological process, as well as for those patients undergoing rehabilitation after surgical treatment.
• Group– the most common option for training, with groups formed on the principle of combining patients with the same severity of the disease.
• Consulting– serve to train patients in the early stages of the development of the disease to carry out gymnastic exercises with the goal that the person will be able to subsequently perform them independently at home.

In case of exacerbation of the disease process or in advanced stages of arthritis, physical exercise is replaced by special positional therapy. Therapeutic measures involve periodically changing the position of the limb with the damaged joint and the entire body in order to force certain muscle groups to work.

Exercises

To obtain the maximum therapeutic effect for damaged joints, the training complex should include:

• Stretching exercises– are used to influence various types and groups of muscle fibers in the patient’s body and restore joint mobility. They consist of giving a certain position to the body and holding it for some time.
• Power loads– contribute to the development of muscle fiber strength, which is necessary to facilitate various movements in damaged joints. In addition, such exercises help normalize mineral metabolism in the body, which has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the musculoskeletal system. The use of power loads is strictly contraindicated in severe forms of arthritis.
• Cardio loads– are necessary to improve the functioning of the heart and vascular system, serve as a preventive measure against the development of somatic complications of arthritis.

“The gymnastics complex must include exercises for stretching various muscle groups.”

The exclusion of physical activity on the affected joints contributes to the rapid progression of the disease, therefore, if arthritis is diagnosed, it is necessary to consult a doctor in order to develop an optimal sports complex. This will not only prolong the periods of remission of the pathology, but also prevent the development of extremely severe complications leading to the patient’s disability.

The most complete answers to questions on the topic: “running for knee arthritis.”

Arthrosis affects the joints, causes pain during movements and constrains them, so patients sharply exclude physical activity, considering sports a contraindication. But this is not true: completely eliminating physical activity from life is harmful even with diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Most patients are interested in the question: is it possible to run with arthrosis? Joint diseases are accompanied by destruction of cartilage and bone tissue and severe pain. But even in these cases, orthopedists recommend performing therapeutic physical exercises.

Why is arthrosis dangerous?

With age, the human body wears out, the first thing aging affects is the joints, which take on loads every day throughout life. Arthrosis is accompanied by the destruction of cartilage tissue. Since nutrients stop flowing to the cartilage and blood circulation is disrupted, degenerative processes begin to develop in the joint. However, the inflammatory process occurs not only in the cartilage; changes also occur in neighboring anatomical formations: capsule, ligaments, synovial membrane, periarticular muscles and bone structures.

Arthrosis is a common disease of the musculoskeletal system. The disease equally affects both men and women, sometimes manifesting itself in young people due to their lifestyle. Any joints of the human body are subject to degenerative changes: hands, first metatarsophalangeal, hip and knee. Often the disease develops in the lumbar and cervical spine.

The danger of the disease lies in the fact that if the inflammatory process is not treated on time, the patient’s future physical activity becomes impossible. People suffering from arthrosis become disabled; any movement is painful for them. Since the disease occurs in several stages, it is important not to miss the first signs of arthrosis and begin timely treatment. When precious time is lost, only surgery to replace the destroyed joint with an artificial one can help the patient.

Why does the disease occur?

Arthrosis develops with age, but sometimes its appearance is provoked by:

• limb injuries (dislocations, sprains, fractures, bruises);
• autoimmune diseases - inflammation due to rheumatoid arthritis or lupus erythematosus;
• nonspecific inflammatory process, for example, as a result of acute purulent arthritis;
• dysplasia – the development of the musculoskeletal system can occur with disturbances even in the uterine period;
• specific inflammatory processes (gonorrhea, tuberculosis, syphilis, tick-borne encephalitis;
• hemophilia;
• disruption of metabolic processes in the body;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• excess weight - in this case there is a strong load on the joints, as a result of which the cartilage plates wear out much faster;
• hereditary factor;
• operations on the limbs;
• increased load on the arms or legs - a high risk of developing arthrosis in those people whose professional activities require constant movement (athletes, loaders);
• hypothermia of the body;
• hormonal imbalance during menopause in the female half of the population;
• intoxication of the body.

Attention! Athletes are at greatest risk of acquiring musculoskeletal diseases. Runners are more likely than others to experience problems with cartilage inflammation. Regular running increases the load on joints by 5 times.

How to recognize the disease

Arthrosis occurs in several stages:

• first stage - there are no visible changes in the limbs, but the composition of the synovial fluid inside the joint changes. Nutrients reach the cartilage in small quantities, which reduces the cartilage's resistance to stress. At this stage, you can already feel pain in the limbs;
• the second stage is characterized by the destruction of cartilage tissue and the growth of bone growths in the joint. The pain becomes stronger and longer lasting, a crunching sound appears. The function of the periarticular muscles is impaired;
• the third stage is the complete destruction of cartilage. The pain does not stop, painkillers no longer work. There is (sometimes) shortening of the affected limb. Motor activity becomes impossible.

Obvious signs of the disease are pain, which at the initial stage appears rarely and passes after a short time, then the pain becomes constant, the crunching in the joint becomes more and more distinct. The sore limb reacts to changing weather conditions. As the disease progresses, the limb shortens, the patient suffers from severe pain, cannot move independently, and becomes disabled.

Treatment is prescribed to the patient only by a doctor. The orthopedist prescribes medications to relieve pain and inflammation, and chondroprotectors for the regeneration of cartilage and bone tissue. In addition, the patient is prescribed physiotherapy and special physical exercises (therapeutic exercise is allowed only after the pain has stopped and the inflammatory process has subsided).

Sports for arthrosis

Doctors recommend performing special physical exercises to maintain the tone of the muscles of the limbs and to improve blood circulation in the joints. However, not all sports are allowed. Running with arthrosis is allowed only in the early stages of the disease. If the inflammatory process is accompanied by severe pain and obvious changes in the limbs, running is prohibited. In any case, only the doctor decides what kind of sport a sick person can do: swimming, walking, gymnastics and running, among others.

Swimming

Water sports are harmless and extremely beneficial for a sick patient. Water helps distribute the load on the joints evenly, thereby avoiding overstrain. Swimming helps relieve pain and relaxes muscles. You can perform simple physical exercises in water: walking along the bottom of a reservoir or pool, swinging your legs, and gentle stretching.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a serious disease of autoimmune etiology. During the development of the disease, connective tissue is affected at the cellular level; as a rule, dystrophic disorders occur in the area of ​​small peripheral joints.

When the general condition of a sick person gradually worsens, and the stages of exacerbation occur with an increase in the intensity of symptoms, we can talk about temporary loss of disability. Even if modern treatment methods used for rheumatoid arthritis do not bring the desired recovery, a medical and social examination is carried out, based on the results of which the patient is diagnosed with a disability of one or another group.

What factors influence disability?

Not every person diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis is given a disability. To be given a disability group, at least one of the required factors must be present. If a patient is diagnosed with a severe stage of RA, and has all the necessary certificates in hand, he has the right to insist on obtaining a group by all means, even if this is denied to him.

A medical and social examination is required in the following cases:

• if the disease progresses rapidly;
• if a visceral-articular form of pathology is diagnosed, which is accompanied by damage to the kidneys or blood vessels (in other words, complicated by the development of neuropathy);
• if an articular form of pathology with prolonged stages of exacerbation is diagnosed;
• if a person can no longer engage in usual professional activities.

Be sure to take into account the percentage of the possibility of independent maintenance and motor functionality.

Functional classes of RA

The concept of “functional class of disease” refers to the percentage for the possibility of independent care that is assigned to a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Before considering the immediate classes, it is worth noting that their definition is influenced by the severity of the disease, which depends on the severity of symptoms and the x-ray picture.

According to the severity of symptoms, the following degrees of development of rheumatoid arthritis are distinguished:

1. Zero degree. There is no joint stiffness observed. The development of the disease is characterized by a normal level of C-reactive protein and ESR with an indicator of less than 15 mm/s.
2. Second degree. Joint stiffness occurs only in the morning (after waking up) and is present for no more than 1 hour. C-reactive protein is increased several times. The ESR indicator is 30 mm/s.
3. Third degree. The feeling of stiffness may last all day. C-reactive protein is increased 3 times, and ESR varies between 30-45 mm/s.
4. Fourth degree. Stiffness is present throughout the day. In this case, a 4-fold increase in C-reactive protein is diagnosed, and ESR reaches 45 mm/s and higher.

Based on the X-ray picture observed during the development of rheumatoid arthritis, the disease may have one of the following types:

• first: periarticular osteoporosis occurs;
• second: in addition to osteoporosis, a narrowing of the periarticular space is observed;
• third: the above symptoms are complemented by the formation of multiple usurs;
• fourth: osteoporosis, narrowing of the periarticular space, urticaria, as well as bone ankylosis are observed.

Based on the X-ray picture and the severity of symptoms, the functional class of the patient with rheumatoid arthritis is determined, according to which it is subsequently determined whether or not a particular patient is entitled to disability:

1. First grade. A person is able to take care of himself: dress, eat, and perform personal hygiene. The patient can also engage in professional and non-professional activities, for example, work and study, go to sports clubs, etc.
2. Second class. A person is able to take care of himself, engage in any light type of sports activity, but he is not able to master some professions.
3. Third class. Independent care is maintained, but professional and non-professional activities are limited.
4. Fourth grade. A person is not able to take care of himself: outside help is required. Engagement in professional and non-professional activities is impossible.

Only a qualified doctor can determine which class a particular person suffering from RA belongs to.

Group definition: medical and social examination

The patient is referred for a medical and social examination by the attending physician, who preliminarily prescribes the necessary diagnostic tests. After passing the necessary diagnostics, the person undergoes a medical examination at the clinic at his place of residence.

After approval of the need to establish a disability group, the mailing list is sent to the bureau of medical and social examination, and the patient is notified of the date and time of the examination.

Before determining whether a specific disability group can be assigned to a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, members of the expert medical commission take into account the following factors:

Based on the results of consideration of these factors, the commission can make a verdict on assigning one of the following disability groups to a person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

Group III – assigned if:

• arthritis occurs at stage 1;
• a person can take care of himself, move around, work, but not as efficiently as before the onset of the disease;
• the patient needs to change his profession to easier work or improve his conditions.

Group II – assigned if:

• diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis of 2 or 3 degrees;
• a person cannot fully care for himself, but needs outside help;
• movement without aids is limited;
• The patient can carry out professional activities only during the remission stage and only at home.

Group I – assigned if:

• the disease is at a severe stage;
• independent movement is impossible: the person is bedridden or moves only with the help of a wheelchair;
• self-service and professional activities are impossible;
• the patient needs constant care.

It is possible to accurately determine the disability group only by conducting laboratory and instrumental studies, as well as carefully studying the history of the disease.

In what cases is a review of the commission’s results prescribed?

If a person does not agree with the ITU result, he has the right to appeal the decision by writing a statement and sending it to the very bureau that considered the application to establish a disability group.

The Bureau is obliged to send it to the main department within 3 days after receiving the application, attaching all available documents. At the main office, a decision is made to conduct a new medical and social examination. If a person does not agree with the new result of the commission, he can appeal it by submitting another application to the main bureau, which sends all documentation to the federal department.

A re-examination is necessary not only to confirm a previously established disability, but also to adjust the rehabilitation program and monitor the dynamics of changes in the patient’s general health.

The frequency of re-examination will differ in one case or another, which is determined depending on the disability group:

• disabled people of group 3 must undergo a commission once a year;
• disabled people of group 2 must also undergo a commission once a year;
• disabled people of group 1 must undergo a commission 2 times a year;
• disabled children are required to pass the commission once before the end of the period for which the disability was determined.

If the disability was established for an indefinite period, that is, indefinitely, you can also undergo the re-examination procedure by writing a corresponding application.

Of course, getting a disability group is not so easy, which is confirmed by real life stories:

Receiving a group for other forms of arthritis

Reactive arthritis, which is a consequence of past infections outside the joints, can also cause disability with severe damage and severe impairment of their functions. As a rule, when reactive arthritis develops, a person is given temporary disability for the period of treatment.

The gouty form of arthritis develops against the background of an increase in the level of uric acids and their deposition in the joints, tissues, their surroundings, and internal organs. A medical and social examination is carried out if the patient has a pronounced dysfunction of the affected joints. The commission decides which group will be most appropriate in a particular case, taking into account the severity of the violations.

Psoriatic arthritis develops as a result of a skin disease such as psoriasis. Secondary pathology has a chronic course. Treatment is aimed only at relieving symptoms and increasing the stages of remission. Primary signs of psoriatic arthritis are not a reason to refer a person for a medical and social examination. It is prescribed only when a person has lost the ability to independently care and lead a normal lifestyle.

Any joint disease, if not diagnosed in a timely manner and without treatment, can lead to disability. It is for this reason that it is important to consult a doctor at the first warning symptoms.

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of several forms of joint disease. Many older people are familiar with it. The disease causes inflammation and unbearable joint pain. It progresses gradually over time, developing into a chronic form. As a result, this disease leads to deformation and then destruction of joints and articular cartilage, as well as inflammatory processes in the tissues of other organs. This very serious and severe disease affects 1 in 100 people, most often between the ages of 40 and 70 years. According to the law of the Russian Federation, they have the right to apply for disability due to rheumatoid arthritis.

Forms

It has been established that rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease. It is associated with a disruption of the immune system, which for some reason begins to mistake its cells for foreign ones and damage them. This disease is very complex, but why it occurs is still not exactly known. There are suggestions that bacteria, viruses, allergens, trauma, heredity and stress are involved in its development.

There are many forms of rheumatoid arthritis, which over time take such forms that the patient loses the ability to care for himself, that is, he becomes disabled:

• Polyarthritis is acute and symmetrical. The disease mainly affects small joints. Over time, the fingers and toes become bent, covered with painful lumps, the patient loses the ability to move or does so with difficulty and maintenance (crooked fingers make it impossible not only to wash or get dressed, but also to prepare something to eat).
• Monoarthritis is acute and sluggish. Large joints are destroyed - first the elbows and knees, then the hands and feet. The disease leads to the inability to care for oneself and move.

There are also special types of diseases that, without timely and correct treatment, lead to disability. These are Still's disease and Felty's syndrome.

Still's disease. Occurs mainly in children. Characterized by severe fever, skin rashes and polyarthritis. The latter factor over time leads to a significant limitation of joint mobility and constant pain.

Felty's syndrome. A variant of the articular-visceral form of rheumatoid arthritis. It is a complication of a common disease, accounting for approximately 1–1.5% of the total number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. There is an enlargement of the liver and spleen, severe pigmentation of the skin of the legs, destruction of joints and damage to the lungs, and possible manifestation of Sjögren's syndrome.

Groups

The assignment of disability depends entirely on the severity of the disease. This is decided by MSE (medical and social examination) through a complete examination of the patient. The main criteria for an affirmative answer for assignment of disability are:

• Operation of assistive technical devices (canes, crutches, walkers).
• Help for the patient from other people (social worker, relatives).

The ITU also determines the patient’s level of ability to live independently. This includes capabilities such as independent maintenance and movement, spatial orientation, controllability of behavior and communication, work activity and learning.

There are 3 disability groups, which are determined based on certain requirements drawn up by medical specialists:

1. The first group is given to patients with regular joint pain and stiffness, with very rapid progression of the disease.
2. The second group is assigned to patients with recurrence of the disease 3-5 times a year and a fairly long rehabilitation period. Stiffness in movements for half a day or more. Limitation of independent care, movement and work activity.
3. The third group is given to patients with rare recurrences of the disease 1–2 times a year. In the morning, joint mobility is limited for no more than 30 minutes. There are restrictions on movement, work, and self-care.

Joint diseases are serious, and without timely consultation with a doctor, diagnosis and treatment, they most often lead to disability. If, after all, the disease is advanced, then the state, represented by the ITU, can provide you with the opportunity to apply for disability for rheumatoid arthritis and use existing social benefits.

How to get a?

Rheumatoid arthritis is included in the list of diseases that give rise to disability. Since it can only be issued for medical reasons, you need to undergo an ITU. The patient's procedure is simple and clear:

1. First, an application is signed by the head of the clinic where the patient is assigned.
2. A direction is attached to the application. You need to get it from the same hospital at your place of registration or from the social security authorities. It must indicate the state of health, the stage of malfunction in the body and the results of rehabilitation measures.

The examination is carried out at the medical institution to which the application is submitted. There are circumstances when a patient is not present at the ITU due to health problems. Then specialists come to the patient’s home or to the hospital where treatment is carried out.

The institution where the examination takes place allocates a commission of doctors from different specialties free of charge. If there are no specialists in it, you will have to pay for the work of invited doctors from your own funds, while they have the right to an advisory vote.

Disability is registered only based on the facts of the ITU examination. If you are assigned disability group 1, then re-examination must be done once every two years, if 2 or 3, this is done annually.

The law exempts from confirmation of disability due to rheumatoid arthritis:

• Men over 60 years of age.
• Women over 55 years of age.
• Disabled people with irreparable defects.

Privileges

Registration of disability is not an easy and lengthy process, but if there are medical indications for this, then be sure to do it. You will receive social protection from the state, which will help make your already difficult life easier.

The following benefits are available to disabled people and are paid from the federal budget:

1. Payment of a monthly cash benefit with a package of social services. To complete the documents, you must contact the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation at your place of residence.
2. Payments for utilities in houses of state and municipal housing stock are 50% less. For registration, contact the housing and communal services or the Social Security Administration at your place of residence.
3. Free provision of technical rehabilitation equipment and prosthetic and orthopedic support. For help, contact the FSS (social insurance fund at your place of residence).

In addition, a number of benefits are provided at the expense of the regional budget: travel without payment for passengers in public transport; supplement to pension; benefits for persons accompanying disabled people of group 1.

For questions about obtaining regional benefits, you must contact the Social Security Administration at your place of residence.

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by wave-like inflammation with periods of remission, when the patient feels deceptive relief, believing that the disease is over. In most patients, the disease becomes chronic with a gradual loss of the ability to move and care for themselves. If this happens to you, do not delay visiting your doctor. Contact the appropriate authorities to obtain disability and benefits.

Fitness, Pilates, running, push-ups, water aerobics for osteochondrosis, when used correctly, are not only not contraindicated, but are also allowed if carried out correctly. Of course, there are different degrees of degenerative diseases of the spine. They may cause severe pain, secondary disorders in internal organs, and limited mobility.

When choosing a sport, you should consult with your doctor regarding its correct implementation. Everyone knows that professional sports activities are not conducive to health. Only limited physical activity will help prevent the back muscles from relaxing and prevent the progression of the disease.

Professional running with cervical osteochondrosis is contraindicated. But dosed physical activity will help improve blood supply to the spinal column. If you play sports, degenerative-dystrophic changes will take on an acute form. When severe pain occurs, you will still have to give up your favorite activity. It is better to do this earlier than to suffer from your carelessness later.

Thus, osteochondrosis and sports are compatible only if the doctor’s recommendations regarding physical activity are correctly followed. In the article we will consider the subtleties and nuances of this issue.

With degenerative changes in the spine, some sports are contraindicated:

• Heavy athletic training for osteochondrosis;
• High jump;
• Throwing a spear;
• Discus throwing;
• Badminton;
• Tennis.

When engaging in the types described above, a strong load is created on the spinal column. Intensive muscle pumping will contribute to the curvature of the spinal axis. Even during periods of remission of degenerative-dystrophic diseases, skeletal muscles cannot be strongly pumped up.

Even pull-ups with osteochondrosis are dangerous, since they stretch the spinal column. In cases of vertebral subluxation or instability, traction will lead to soft tissue damage, which will increase pain. In this case, prolapse of the intervertebral hernia may occur.

Hockey and football with osteochondrosis are dangerous due to trauma to the body. Ideally, active sports should have a healing effect on the body. However, participants often get carried away, which leads to unexpected injuries and sprains of the muscular-ligamentous system.

The risk of spinal injuries increases when skiing, freestyle skiing, and jumping from heights. Skiing in winter puts stress on the spinal column due to the need to carry a backpack on your back.

The minimum load on the back is created when the load is localized at the back on belts that are attached to the shoulders. In such a situation, the muscle fibers are not strongly strained, which does not lead to a displacement of the spinal axis.

Golf, badminton and tennis are accompanied by sharp turns of the body to the side. When they occur, pain increases and the degree of vertebral instability increases. Displacement of the vertebral segments gradually leads to the formation of hernias.

Walking in the forest, swimming, running for cervical osteochondrosis, swimming help normalize blood circulation and relieve pain.

To improve your back health, you should jog in the fresh air in the evening. It is better to run on a path with sawdust in sports shoes. In such a situation, the spinal column will be strengthened due to the shock-absorbing load.

Swimming and water aerobics for osteochondrosis allows you to relax your back muscles. When practicing these sports, skeletal muscles are strengthened as efficiently as possible.

It should be understood, however, that any sport for diseases of the spine is contraindicated during pain. It is better to cancel physical exercise until health is restored. Immediately after the pain, even minor gymnastics is recommended. You can hang on the horizontal bar, do stretching, and do breathing exercises according to Sokolova. The main thing is the regularity of physical therapy.

For women, we recommend Pilates or fitness for osteochondrosis, which should be done regularly. These workouts help strengthen the muscles of the neck and lower back. A strong muscle corset will maintain the correct position of the spinal axis. It is advisable to run in the fresh air for 20-30 minutes after a fitness or Pilates class. This creates the opportunity to strengthen the respiratory muscles.

Pilates for cervical osteochondrosis helps prevent brain hypoxia. Exercises prevent compression of the vertebral artery in the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae. This vessel supplies blood to about 25% of brain tissue. Pathology is observed with instability or subluxation of the vertebrae of the neck.

Let us draw the readers' attention to the physical activity that occurs when lifting heavy objects and sitting at a table. During static movements, the muscles are constantly in a state of asynchronous tone. At work, to relieve muscle strain, we advise you to get up often and make minimal movements.

At home, an exercise bike for osteochondrosis has a good effect on restoring skeletal muscles, which will help relieve physical stress. The use of such products should be discussed with your doctor.

Lean on the back of a chair while sitting. In this case, the back of the chair should be located above the shoulder girdle. It is advisable to choose a seat that is flat and hard. Its depth should not be less than a quarter of the hip size.

Remember that when lifting heavy objects from the floor, you should squat down a little. At the same time, keep your back straight, straighten your knee joints. Make sure that the leg muscles are not in a state of contraction.

Thus, exercise equipment, running, cycling, abdominal pumping are activities that are allowed for degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine. Before using them, you should agree with your doctor on the exercises you will use to treat the pathology.

In conclusion, advice to women: high heels are not good for your health. If you can't give it up, limit the time you wear it.

Quite often in gyms you can see athletes suffering from arthritis and spinal problems. In this regard, many are interested in whether training will harm? Therefore, today we will talk about the right choice of physical activity for arthritis and other problems of the musculoskeletal system.

Arthritis symptoms

Arthritis refers to inflammatory processes affecting the internal elements of the joints. In this case, the affected joint swells, and pain in the joints is present not only during movement, but also at rest. To accurately determine the disease and its stage, you need to seek help from specialists. Main signs of arthritis:

• Joint swelling.
• High sensitivity and pain during palpation.
• The joint loses its former ability to move.
• Body temperature in the joint area increases.

There can be many reasons for the appearance of this disease. For example, the consequences of an infectious disease, a previous injury, or even a lack of vitamins.

Exercise for arthritis

It is immediately necessary to diagnose the stage of the disease and its localization. At the time of exacerbations, training is strictly contraindicated. After the onset of remission, you can start exercising again, giving the body light loads. It is necessary to pay special attention to the following restrictions during classes:

• Avoid axial loads on the affected part of the body.
• Avoid bending compounds with arthritis.
• Do not use medications to relieve pain. This is very important because if pain is not felt, serious injury may occur.
• Each workout should begin with a warm-up task, which includes movements in the damaged parts of the body with low amplitude.

When choosing the degree of load, you should be guided by the individual characteristics of the person, as well as the stage of the disease. It is also very important to remember that in the third stage of arthritis, only physical therapy exercises are allowed as a training process, without the use of various weights.

Rules for training for arthritis

As an example, an approximate set of classes for people suffering from the first stage of ankle disease can be used.

As mentioned above, before starting training, you should find out the stage of the disease. In this case, this is the first, so one-component exercises can be used, and their repetitions should be in the range from 15 to 20. In this case, special attention should be paid to ensuring that great effort is not applied when performing the exercises.

When selecting leg exercises using weights, you need to choose in such a way that the damaged joint is involved as little as possible. The most preferable in this case are flexion and extension of the legs. When arthritis affects the ankle, the leg extensor muscles become significantly less functional and require strengthening.

To restore normal performance of damaged body parts (joints), scratching should be used. Moreover, the best option would be training using the PIR (piezometric relaxation) method. During classes, do not forget about the stabilizer muscles located in the ankle. All exercises should be selected based on the individual characteristics of the person. Here is one possible training example:

1. Five-minute cycling sessions and exercises to develop ankle flexibility.
2. Leg extension in a sitting position using a machine - 2 sets of 15 repetitions.
3. Leg bending in a lying position using a machine - 15 repetitions in two approaches.
4. Reduction of arms using the Butterfly simulator.
5. Pull-down of the upper block to the chest, while the grip should be slightly wider than the shoulders - 2 sets of 15 repetitions.
6. Exercise for shoulders on a 45° bench in a crossover - 15 repetitions in two approaches.
7. Biceps exercise using dumbbells as weights. Performed on an incline bench - 2 sets of 15 repetitions.
8. Bench press, close grip - 15 repetitions in two approaches.
9. Exercise for the abs, twisting, while the lower back should be pressed to the floor. Perform 2 approaches with the maximum possible number of repetitions.

This training should be done twice a week - for example, Tuesday and Friday.

What else should you pay attention to?

It is very important that those suffering from this disease monitor the range of motion in the damaged parts of the body during training. It is worth remembering that it should not go beyond the minimum threshold of pain. If pain occurs while performing the exercise, you should stop doing it immediately.

Strength exercises should be diluted with stabilization exercises. At the end of the training process, it is advisable to perform exercises to develop the flexibility of all muscle groups.

Aerobic exercise during illness is possible only in the form of training that does not have a shock load. The most effective for these purposes is a bicycle. Activities that use aerobic exercise should not be combined with strength training. The duration of the training process is determined only based on the individual characteristics of the student.

In conclusion, a few words must be said about swimming. Those suffering from arthritis should start their workouts in the pool, making calm swims in it. This will make the load on the joint minimal, but at the same time put a good load on the muscles. To increase the range of motion, exercises should be carried out in warm water.

That's all the main features of training for arthritis. By following the recommendations above, you can maintain your physical fitness without putting stress on the injured joint. We also remind you that under no circumstances should you exercise “through pain.” If pain occurs, it is better to stop the exercise. This will avoid additional deformation of the internal elements of the joint.

Arthritis is a fairly serious disease, and you should not aggravate your situation while playing sports. Before starting training, you should seek advice from a medical professional and decide on the advisability of training together. During training, always monitor your condition so as not to cause further damage to the injured joint.

Video about arthritis: