Depending on the patient's condition, physiotherapy for osteochondrosis is used both in combination with medication and independently. The following types of physiotherapy are used for osteochondrosis: Laser therapy, Detensor therapy, Electrotherapy, Shock wave therapy, Magnetotherapy, Mud and Balneotherapy, Ultrasound therapy, Ultraviolet radiation (UFO). After successful resolution of the aggravation, massage and physiotherapy exercises are indicated.
UFO:Under the influence of UVA, vitamin D is formed, which helps the skin absorb calcium. The method is performed using irradiators with bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
Ultrasound treatment and phonophoresis:exposure of the body to high-frequency sounds (20 kHz or more) during ultrasound therapy. Due to its effect, the method eliminates pain of various localizations. This method is combined with the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs (ultraphonophoresis) to better penetrate the affected tissues.
Shock wave therapy:The method involves transmitting an acoustic wave to a painful area of the body. This type: relieves pain, improves microcirculation, improves metabolism.
Detentor therapy:The method involves stretching the spine using the patient's body weight.
Laser therapy:The method has a healing effect using helium-neon lasers. Due to the activation of bioelectrical processes in the tissues of the nervous system, laser therapy has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Laser radiation is performed along the inflamed spinal roots. Osteochondrosis affects the paravertebral areas of the spine.
Electrotherapy:Electrotherapy has a multifaceted effect on the body: it relieves pain and discomfort, improves the nutrition and trophism of the affected tissues. Impulse currents have a very effective therapeutic effect. The mechanism of their action on the body is determined by the effect on nerve receptors. Low-frequency pulses help relieve acute pain and are prescribed as first aid for severe pain syndrome. The following types of current are used: diadynamic therapy (DDT), amplipulse therapy (SMT), interventional therapy, transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation (TENS), UHF electric field.
Magnetotherapy:Physiotherapy for osteochondrosis includes the use of magnetotherapy, which has a decongestant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic effect. Inductors are placed on the affected spine and limbs.
Balneotherapy and mud therapy:Balneotherapy for osteochondrosis consists of the use of mineral waters (local and public baths, swimming pools, showers) for the purpose of treatment and rehabilitation. During the procedure, minerals penetrate the skin and affect the receptors and nerve centers.
When treated with mud, the effect on the body occurs under the influence of heat and the chemical composition of the healing mud. Mud is used in the form of applications.
Balneotherapy stimulates metabolism, improves blood circulation and relieves inflammation and pain.
Combined physiotherapy methods: Combined physiotherapy methods are most commonly prescribed for osteochondrosis. For example, electrophoresis (diadynamophoresis) is used with severe pain, diadynamic therapy and the use of novocaine. Acupuncture-laser piercing is used for a one-step effect on biologically active points. The action points are to activate with acupuncture needles and laser beam.
Mud therapy is often applied with electrotherapy (electrophoresis with mud solution, inductothermy with mud, galvanic mud therapy).
Joint treatment
All joint diseases can be divided into two main groups - joint lesions caused by metabolic diseases and joint inflammation. Of course, in each case, the joint treatment is carried out according to its own specific program.
Joint treatment,Whether it is arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism or other disease, it must be complex, and the main task to be solved by treatment is to eliminate the cause of the disease and the consequent painful symptoms.
Treatment with modern techniques aims to eliminate or minimize the symptoms of pain, local or general inflammation, and restore the affected joints. Complex treatment usually begins with medication.
The patient is prescribed painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs that help restore joint cartilage and strengthen the immune system. At this stage, joint treatment can relieve the symptoms of pain. Often involves the intraarticular administration of drugs to allow the therapeutic substance in any concentration to enter the patient's joint cavity directly. This increases the effectiveness of drug treatment.
In addition, when the main symptoms of the acute phase are reliably eliminated, treatment continues with the help of complex physiotherapeutic procedures, exercise therapy exercises, massage. Especially the treatment of joints with physiotherapeutic methods is widely used today.
Pulse currents (DDT, SMT), magnetotherapy, EHF-therapy, laser therapy, electrophoresis with drugs, ultrasound and phonophoresis are used. When the exacerbation is reduced, balneotherapy (bath types) and mud therapy are combined. Physiotherapy and massage are prescribed.
Treatment of low back pain
There are many causes of this pain. First of all, unbearable pain may appear due to intervertebral disc herniation (protrusion), osteochondrosis and pathology of the nervous system. Often, back pain occurs in people who have been in the same condition for a long time.
Again, the most common reason is lack of physical activity! This reduces blood flow to the ligaments, joints and intervertebral discs, and begins to break down the cartilage that forms them. The cause of all diseases of the spine is the weakening of the ligament apparatus. When pain appears, you should immediately consult a doctor who will determine the cause, make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
To reduce the risk of back pain, you need to exercise more, control your weight and do at least minimal gymnastics (15 minutes a day is enough).
Proper nutrition is also very important - it is one of the keys to health and longevity, and the waist needs protein to maintain calcium for elasticity and strength. Calcium is found in large amounts in protein in hard cheese, liver, nuts, cottage cheese, eggs and meat and dairy products. The bones and ligaments of the spine also need micronutrients: phosphorus (found in bran, peas, fish), magnesium and manganese (found in sea fish, onions, potatoes), as well as fatty acids - the source of which is walnuts, oily sea fish and olive oil.
When low back pain worsens, treatment begins with medications - usually painkillers, diuretics, and medications to relieve muscle spasms. However, there are no drugs without side effects, they are used only for a limited time and, most importantly, do not eliminate the cause of back pain and do not prevent the recurrence of the disease. In the acute period, treatments such as pulling, as well as wearing a collar and corset are used, which allows the patient to relax the back.
In addition to emergency medical care - drugs that relieve muscle spasms and pain, the most important treatment of osteochondrosis is physiotherapy to reduce pain in the acute phase of the disease, improve blood circulation in the tissues, prevent malnutrition of ligaments, muscles and joints. and prevents movement disorders.
Modern physiotherapy is a field of medicine with a powerful therapeutic tool; Inside are divided into two large blocks - physiotherapy exercises with massage and electrotherapy. Therapeutic massage is one of the most effective methods in the treatment of osteochondrosis and back pain, as it improves blood circulation in deep tissues and removes muscle blocks ("clamps"), which are the main cause of severe pain.
One of the most effective methods of electrotherapy is drug electrophoresis - a means of purposeful delivery of drugs to a diseased organ, which improves the blood supply to the tissues.
Impulse currents - DDT, SMT - have a pronounced analgesic, antispasmodic and trophic effect. Also, a laser, a magnetic laser is used to treat back pain. This method allows you to quickly eliminate the swelling associated with inflammation and, consequently, the pain that occurs in edematous and compressed tissues.
Magnetotherapy is used in the form of permanent or alternating magnetic fields, but can also quickly stop swelling and pain.
D'arsonval currents are effective - "ozonated" currents used to relieve painful muscle spasms, high-frequency ultrasound vibrations that eliminate inflammation and help dissolve scars, increase tissue elasticity.
Physiotherapy plays a special role in physiotherapy. Significance is often underestimated, and as a result, without a full-fledged muscle corset, it is impossible to treat back pain and prevent recurrence of osteochondrosis.
Physiotherapy is especially important in the post-traumatic period. Its use will help prevent the recurrence of back pain caused by so-called "motor stereotypes". For example, an office worker who spends the whole working day behind a computer, or a salesperson whose main workload falls on his feet. Regular health gymnastics, yoga, Pilates and other types of exercise can also be a very effective way to combat "motor automatism".
Treatment of neck pain
Pain can have a variety of causes, from muscle spasms to cervical herniated discs. Once the neck pain appears (due to a sharp dizziness, an uncomfortable posture during sleep), it is likely to go away on its own within a few days.
To reduce the pain, you only need to reduce the static load on the neck muscles (do not keep your head tilted for a long time), do not be overwhelmed by excessive physical tension, do not make sudden neck movements.
If the pain in the neck is persistent or recurrent, if the headache is accompanied by numbness of the upper extremities, it is necessary to undergo a thorough examination.
Physiotherapy for neck pain is aimed at relieving pain syndrome, improving blood circulation and microcirculation in the affected segment, providing anti-inflammatory and anti-edema effects, eliminating metabolic and dystrophic diseases, and reducing movement disorders.
Physical factors are used in the inpatient and outpatient stages, after the patient is discharged from the hospital, as well as in early postoperative rehabilitation. In the acute period: after 4-5 days (as the intensity of the process decreases) laser therapy, pulse currents (SMT, DDT, interference currents), magnetotherapy, UFO of the segmental zone, darsonvalization of the cervical region. In the occipital region of the spine and head, electrophoresis of substances is prescribed local anesthesia, ganglion-blocking action in the painful areas.
In the subacute period: phonophoresis with drugs, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis of drugs, microwave electromagnetic fields (SMV, UHF), laser therapy are used.
In remission: thermotherapy is closed for the neck, including ozokerite and mud therapy, balneotherapy (iodine-bromine, turpentine baths, laurel baths, bischofite baths), underwater shower massage, therapeutic massage.
Treatment of low back pain
Pain in the lower back is caused by an imbalance of the musculoskeletal system. In this condition, microtrauma of the soft tissues occurs, resulting in excessive release of chemical irritants (pain mediators). They cause muscle spasms and back pain.
The origin of lumbodynia is mainly associated with osteochondrosis localized in the lumbar region. Lumbodynia is characterized by severe low back pain with moderate or traumatic lumbodynia factors: physical fatigue, systematic or excessive physical exertion; sharp movements; "non-physiological" constant work or prolonged stay in a restless state; low back pain, hypothermia, colds, etc.
The low back pain treatment program covers the following key points:
- Bed rest for eight to ten days. At the same time the bed should be flat and firm. "Resting" on such a surface allows you to relax the back muscles.
- Lumbago's medical treatment includes the use of sedatives and painkillers and the use of novocaine blockers (with severe increased pain).
You can use physiotherapy methods, electrophoresis of analgesics, pulse currents, ultraviolet radiation of segmental zones. In an acute period, the patient may be prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of tablets, injections, suppositories or ointments to relieve muscle spasms. Warming creams can be used only during rehabilitation (on the third day of exacerbation). It can cause swelling in the acute period and increase pain.
- After the acute pain is relieved, lumbago treatment is continued with sports therapy, massage and manual therapy.
The main task at this stage is to strengthen the muscle corset and reduce the compression of the nerve roots. Special exercises for lumbago help to normalize metabolism, improve blood circulation and nutrition of the intervertebral discs, relieve muscle tension, increase the intervertebral space and relax the spine.
In addition, acupuncture, hydromassage, mineral baths, mud treatments and other physiotherapy are prescribed during remission (see: Treatment of low back pain). Thanks to this, blood circulation is improved, anti-inflammatory and restorative effect is provided.
Physiotherapy treatment
Physiotherapy (Greek: Physis - nature and therapy) is a branch of medicine that studies the therapeutic properties of physical factors and develops methods for their use for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. In modern physiotherapy, low, high, ultra high and ultra high frequency magnetic, electric and electromagnetic fields, artificial light radiation (from infrared to ultraviolet and monochromatic correlation), mechanical vibrations (from ultrasound to ultrasound), etc.
Physical factors have affected humans throughout evolution, so physiotherapy procedures have a greater physiological effect on the body than many drugs.
Physiotherapy treatment can be used both independently and in combination with drug therapy, manual therapy, massage, physiotherapy exercises. Various factors and methods used in physiotherapy determine the possibility of individual effects on the body and the target effect on the pathological process without adverse side effects.
The application of physiotherapy is possible in almost all areas of medicine: otorhinolaryngology, gastroenterology, gynecology, urology, pulmonology, orthopedics and traumatology, neurology, surgery, cardiology, etc.
There is a wide range of mud therapy, hydrotherapy (various mineral and aromatic baths, underwater shower massage), magnetotherapy, laser therapy, various types of currents (galvanic, pulse, high frequency), electromagnetic waves UHF, microwave physiotherapy. , EHF, inhaled herbs, halotherapy, vibrating traction device, physiotherapy room, qualified massage staff.
Also in the department of physical therapy methods are carried out therapeutic acupuncture methods, electrical stimulation for various neurological diseases. All physiotherapy treatment is prescribed by the physiotherapist of the department, taking into account the disease and the general condition of the patient.
Rehabilitation
Medical rehabilitation is a set of therapeutic and prophylactic measures aimed at restoring as much as possible the patient's lost abilities after various diseases.
Rehabilitation also aims to restore the patient's muscle strength while preventing recurrences or complications. Today, medical rehabilitation is not just about prescribing any exercise after discharge from the hospital or a course of physiotherapy at the end of the inpatient period.
Rehabilitation is a complex of activities involving doctors from different fields - physiotherapists, massage therapists, psychologists, speech therapists and others. The result is a complex rehabilitation that allows the patient to recover completely, not partially. The success of treatment depends on both the correct diagnosis and the optimally selected and implemented treatment, as well as the correct and timely rehabilitation of the patient.
Rehabilitation has one goal - to restore as much as possible the lost functions in the patient, based on the existing consequences of the injury or disease and the treatment carried out.
Depending on the field of application, rehabilitation can be as follows: Orthopedic - is performed after injuries and operations on diseases of the musculoskeletal system, fractures, spinal disorders and postural disorders. Neurology and neurosurgery are one of the most serious types of rehabilitation, because its implementation involves the most specialists - neurologists, physiotherapists, massage therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, etc.
This rehabilitation is required after injuries and operations on the peripheral nervous system (nerve bundles), diseases of the nervous system (brain, spinal cord) with stroke, paresis and paralysis. Cardiological rehabilitation - rehabilitation after acute heart attack with cardiovascular disease.
The goal of rehabilitation is to restore joint strength and tone, restore all movement in the joints after immobilization (after fractures), and rapid recovery of muscles with prolonged physical inactivity associated with prolonged physical inactivity to accelerate regeneration. improve the trophism of cartilage, organs and bone tissue, increase mobility with adhesions in the abdominal cavity after abdominal surgery, increase the overall tone and improve the psychoemotional state of the patient, relieve pain and swelling after joint injuries, restore physical activity after stroke, paresis and paralysis, as well as muscle-in the postoperative period in patients after operations associated with diseases and injuries of the skeletal system (after injuries, fractures, bruises and sprains).
It should be noted that the rehabilitation process itself is based on stimulating the patient's capabilities under external influences. Physical exercise, modern equipment helps to stimulate local and general immunity, improve tissue regeneration processes, restore blood and lymph circulation.
Medical rehabilitation methods include: therapeutic gymnastics, massage, kinesitherapy, physiotherapy, manual therapy, electromyostimulation (consists of improving the transmission of nerve impulses to skeletal muscles), psychological assistance, speech therapy.
It should be noted that one of the key points in any rehabilitation is physiotherapeutic methods aimed at restoring lost functions and stimulating movements in the patient, accelerating the recovery processes in tissues and organs, especially the musculoskeletal system, nervous system and circulatory system. .
One of the advantages of physiotherapy methods is that they do not use drugs, ie there is no risk of allergic reactions and side effects, drug dependence does not develop, and the treatment methods used are generally non-invasive.
A well-chosen set of rehabilitation programs will help the patient to recover as soon as possible after an illness, injury or surgery, give him a sense of freedom of movement and the ability to communicate with the people around him without any restrictions.