Coxarthrosis is an osteoarthritis in the knee joint, i.e. a degenerative disease characterized by the wear of the cartilage layer of the knee joint. A distinction is made between 2 different types: medial gonarthrosis affects the inner part of the knee joint and lateral gonarthrosis affects the outer part. In most cases, it is a so-called 'primary osteoarthritis', which occurs due to age-related cartilage degradation. In the case of congenital malpositions, certain diseases or injuries that cause wear of the cartilage mass, one speaks of 'secondary gonarthrosis'.
The most common causes are obesity, incorrect loads/overloads, injuries and congenital malpositions, such as X-legs or O-legs.
In the initial stage, patients with gonarthrosis are usually pain-free. Only later can stress pain occur, especially after longer rest breaks (beginning pain), when climbing stairs or climbing uphill. Other typical symptoms are also cracking and rubbing noises, swelling and warmth of the joint. The further the gonarthrosis progresses, the more often pain can occur and the ability to move is restricted.
To relieve pain in the acute phases, medications are usually prescribed. In order to improve the supply of cartilage, physical therapy measures, such as cold/heat therapy, can be used. Above all, however, conservative methods for gonarthrosis can help reduce pain and restore stability in the joint. Targeted physiotherapy measures and sports therapy training help to build strength, improve coordination and strengthen the muscles. Through adapted movement, the cartilage is also better supplied, more 'joint smear' is formed, so that there is a lower abrasion. Suitable sports are mainly swimming, walking, cycling and additional, targeted and individually adapted strength/muscle training. Although worn cartilage tissue cannot be reconstructed, conservative methods counteract further wear and tear in the best case, an operation is avoided in the best case.
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