A healthy body can walk, squat, climb stairs and do most other movements easily and without apparent difficulty. If some of these actions are accompanied by discomfort, pain, and swelling, this signals the beginning of joint destruction. Combating the problem involves a treatment process that includes taking medications, a special diet and, of course, massage of the joints and limbs.
The massage technology depends on the person’s current illness and is determined by the doctor.
Anatomy of the knee joint
The front of the knee consists of the kneecap, or patella. It in turn is connected to the quadriceps femoris muscle by means of a tendon, which continues in the form of a system of ligaments:
- lateral;
- rear;
- intra-articular.
The articular surfaces are protected by thin cartilaginous formations - menisci. Thus, between the connective tissues of the femur and tibia, the internal and external cartilage are located, respectively. The joint also has cavities with fluid (synovium), which provides good shock absorption when walking and running.
Interesting! 151 degrees is the total range of motion of a person's knee flexion and extension.
Without contacting a specialist
Even without attending therapeutic massage classes, you can easily carry out an effective procedure at home using:
- Honey – apply a small layer of it to the knee. Pressing your hand to the sticky surface, we sharply pull it away, slightly lifting the skin. Such movements replace professional massage techniques. During these actions, blood flows to the joint, nourishing it, washing away salts, waste and toxins. We can see them in that whitish coating that appears on the skin after the first 10 minutes of massage. This self-massage warms, relieves fatigue, soothes, and resolves scars and adhesions. This effect is enhanced by the healing properties of honey. But we must remember that this procedure is contraindicated for allergy sufferers, as it can lead to anaphylactic shock.
- Massagers are special devices of different designs that serve as an alternative to the hands of a massage therapist. They combine vibration or acupressure with the warming and anti-inflammatory effect of infrared radiation and magnetic therapy. As a result, capillaries expand, blood circulation increases, nutrition of cartilage, bone and connective tissue improves, muscles relax, ligaments stretch, releasing the joint and increasing its mobility.
Whatever type of massage you choose, if performed correctly, it will bring great benefits and restore health to your feet.
Main indications for physiotherapy using massage method
There are types of indications:
- Prevention in case of osteochondrosis, flat feet.
- To strengthen joints for those who are overweight.
- Accelerating recovery after sprains.
- Normalization of condition after arthroscopy.
- During active sports and physical activity.
- Rehabilitation after operations, injuries and acute inflammations.
- During remission for arthrosis and other pathological changes in the joint.
The place of massage in the rehabilitation program
Massage is included in the rehabilitation program starting from the second or third week. At the same time, the patient is allowed to perform more complex exercises and is allowed to exercise on special simulators. After another one or two weeks, he is allowed to swim in the pool and do water gymnastics.
2-3 months after the operation, the patient is recommended to undergo a course of balneotherapy and/or mud therapy. This can be done in sanatorium-resort health resorts located on thermal springs (radon, hydrogen sulfide waters).
Absolute and relative contraindications
Despite acute pain in the knee area, massage is not prescribed to the patient in the following conditions:
- Exacerbations of infections of various types and with fever.
- Heart attack.
- Bleeding and bleeding disorders.
- Oncological diseases.
- The last stages of varicose veins.
- The beginning of a relapse of the inflammatory process.
- Immediately after mechanical damage to the joint.
- Serious mental problems.
Attention! It is forbidden to massage the knee in the active phase of synovitis or other disease.
It is also not recommended to massage if there are skin lesions: dermatitis, open wounds, etc.
Important points when self-massage
If it is not possible to use his services, to obtain the necessary knowledge, it is better to first watch a video of self-massage of the knee joint, which outlines the basic requirements and provides the correct sequence of therapeutic manipulations. This will allow you to avoid possible complications from unqualified actions, optimize the process itself by adding additional tasks to it and resolving them along the way. The main conditions under which it is possible to obtain the desired result are mandatory for any method:
- constant moistening of the area of suspected damage;
- necessary therapeutic exercises done before the start, which warms up the muscle groups and prepares them for the upcoming procedures;
- taking a non-hot shower or bath (if it is not possible to carry out therapeutic exercises), although it will serve as an unequal replacement, does not sufficiently compensate for the necessary warming up;
- the technique can be watched on video, but home massage is best done after consulting a chiropractor who will examine the knee, hip and suggest problem areas that need increased load or the use of a special technique;
- massage oil or cream must be selected individually, based on the goals set or negative reactions that a particular person may experience to its components;
- self-massage, like any massage, should be performed along the vessels - lymphatic and circulatory;
- the main condition for the procedures is that there should be no pain, burning or other unpleasant sensations that may indicate inflammation, bursitis or other conditions when massage is undesirable;
- the duration and complexity of the sessions increases gradually, and only over the course of several months do they move, with constant implementation, from simple and short ones to more complex and lengthy ones;
- the use of specialized techniques - Bubnovsky's methods, qigong, must first be carried out under the supervision of a specialist and medical supervision of the patient's condition;
- at the initial stage, without the appropriate knowledge, it is better to do the simplest massage yourself, so as not to harm the joint and not transfer the disease to the acute stage.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are so specific that even one unprofessional session can re-provoke inflammation or harm the knee joint, which has just begun to rehabilitate.
Basic knee massage techniques
Knee massage techniques include:
- Stroking is a light touch on the skin, minimal impact for the purpose of relaxation. It is carried out over the entire surface of the palm of the hand.
- Rubbing: is a way to deeply influence the subcutaneous tissues and muscles. Thus, the flow of blood and nutrition to the damaged areas improves.
- Vibration is intermittent and continuous. It tones the knee system, reduces pain and spasms, and removes inflammation.
- Kneading helps during the recovery phase. It is performed using different techniques - muscle grip, circular movements with fingers, pressure with the base of the palm, etc.
Conducting a quality warm-up
Massage is a real life-saving measure for people with arthrosis. If massaging the shoulder and hip joints causes difficulties, then massaging the knees is easy. You need to sit down on a chair, relax and bend your leg at the knee. Start with gentle stroking, then move on to kneading movements. The treatment procedure is carried out for 15 minutes approximately four times a day, sometimes 2 times a 10-minute self-massage is quite enough. When warming up, the pain forces you to stop the procedure and lie down for a while. If you still have questions about how to properly perform massage movements of the knee joint, video 1 will be very useful.
Warming movements for arthrosis of the knee joint are recommended to be done while sitting and begin with rubbing. At the time of self-massage, work with bent fingers, pads (for straight, circular and zigzag movements), the base of the palms of the hands, movement of the pads of four fingers, moving the phalanges with bent fingers in a circle, knuckles of the fists, ribs of the palms. You should work by repeating the therapeutic movements up to three times. A massage session should take up to 15 minutes. For knee joint disease, this warm-up is sometimes performed twice a day. In this case, one session is reduced by 10 minutes.
Video 2 clearly demonstrates the slowdown in destructive processes after treatment.
- Muscle atrophy is prevented.
- Metabolism improves.
- A source of important “building” amino acids appears.
- The processes of destruction of cartilage tissue and joints are slowed down.
- The process of inflammation and swelling is suppressed.
- A long-lasting analgesic effect appears.
With arthrosis of the knee joint, severe inflammation can result from indiscriminate impact on the joint.
- Excess weight increases the effect on the fragile cartilage surface.
- Excessive physical activity. Concerns the activities of athletes. Arthrosis of the knee joint is their occupational disease, since the joints wear out and become deformed due to constant stress.
An unhealthy lifestyle, smoking and alcohol negatively affect the vascular part and arteries. With varicose veins, the risk of developing arthrosis increases. Video 3 clearly demonstrates the consequences of joint destruction.
Knee massage after injury
After the victim has had an X-ray of his knee and received a diagnosis, he can sign up for a restorative massage session.
Traumatic bursitis
Bursitis is an inflammation of the synovial bursa of a joint and the accumulation of fluid in it. In this case, massage is prescribed to normalize the blood supply to damaged areas and cell metabolism.
Injury
With minor bruises and dislocations, soft tissue injury occurs, which causes vascular spasm, and then congestive plethora. Massage helps relieve pain and swelling, and strengthens muscles.
Ligament damage
Ligament problems are common among athletes. Massage in this case:
- Activates skin hyperemia and muscle contractions.
- Reduces nerve sensitivity.
- Stimulates metabolic processes.
- Prevents atrophy.
- Affects the resorption of effusions and hemorrhages.
Meniscal damage
It is important to start sessions at an early stage of rehabilitation after injury. Here are the tasks of massage:
- Reduce the growth of malnutrition.
- Affect muscle contractility.
- Reduce tension.
- Improve blood and lymph circulation.
- Remove joint contractures and maintain joint mobility.
Massage after a knee fracture
Knee massage after injury:
- Improves blood and lymph flow.
- Increases muscle elasticity.
- Forms callus.
- Normalizes leg functions.
- Eliminates pain and removes hematomas.
| Before | After |
Honey procedure
If you don’t have a hand massager at home, then with arthrosis or after an injury, with the permission of a doctor, you can massage your knees with honey. First, the painful area is steamed with a compress, a poultice of herbs: sage, chamomile, calendula or pine needles, or a heating pad. Next, the knee is lubricated with semi-liquid honey (1 tbsp.). It is impossible to heat honey above 40°C, as it will lose its medicinal properties.
Next, soft and deep “sticking to the skin” and more sharp “unsticking” from the skin are performed with the pads of the fingers (the first phalanx) until the honey becomes dirty gray in color and pain appears when the fingers come off.
Next, moisten a small terry towel in hot water, apply it to the knee and, after cooling for some time, wipe the affected area. Repeat this poultice 2-3 times, leaving for 2-3 minutes. Finally, the knee is wrapped in a warm scarf and left overnight.
Procedure using honey
Massage after surgery
In the postoperative period, knee massage speeds up the healing process.
Endoprosthetics
Endoprosthetics, or replacement of a natural joint with an implant, is done when the cartilaginous structure of the knee is completely destroyed. After such a serious operation, massage is necessary for:
- Relieving muscle spasms.
- Reduce knee swelling.
- Softening scar tissue.
- Restoring tendon functions.
- Toning the limb and returning the ability to move.
After meniscus removal
Massaging the knee after removing the cartilage of the joint lining helps:
- Normalization of microcirculation, lymph circulation and venous blood.
- Eliminate pain and swelling.
- Development of muscle trophism and ligament activity.
Self-massage of the knee joint
Self-massage at home is useful for prevention and in cases where diseases develop, such as arthritis. Rules for self-massage of the knee:
- If you experience pain, you should concentrate on massaging the area above the knee - on the quadriceps muscle, not the kneecap.
- Knee massage is performed using lifting, friction and compression techniques. Each reception is done from 5 to 10 minutes.
- In addition to self-massage, a leg joint massager is used.
- Massaging can be done directly on the skin or over light clothing.
- Aromatherapy and essential oils are actively used during sessions.
- The massage area is often lubricated with oil or baby cream.
Note! Before conducting a session, it is useful to familiarize yourself with the literature, for example, the book by A.A. Biryukov, a specialist in therapeutic and sports massage.
Massage for arthrosis of the elbow joint with arthrosis changes
Position the patient lying on his stomach or side. In this type of massage, a clear sequence is important: shoulder girdle - shoulder - elbow joint - forearm. Start with stroking, rubbing and kneading. Then they move on to circular kneading with their fingertips. The total time allotted for the procedure is 15 minutes, massage of the joint itself is about 3 minutes.
To achieve the goals of massaging joints for cartilage degeneration, it is better to contact a professional massage therapist or doctor. But to alleviate the condition and maintain muscle tone, massage can be used at home. Self-massage techniques are identical to the classical one, with the only difference being that the intensity of the impact should be small and not cause discomfort or pain.
Knee massagers
When choosing a massager for knee joints, you need to consider its functions:
- Vibration therapy: relaxes muscles, tendons, stimulates blood circulation.
- Exposure to heat (infrared rays) - helps remove toxins and increases regenerative abilities.
- Laser treatment: reducing inflammation and pain.
- The presence of several modes of action, the ability to set a timer.
- Fabric quality.
- Versatility: The knee massager can fit a limited range of foot sizes.
Top major joint massagers: Ivolconn, Vollusk, Auspa, Ms.Dear, Orthokong
What benefits can massage bring?
Massage for arthritis of the knee joint and other phenomena that cause pain makes it possible to eliminate the feeling of stiffness, limited mobility, and relieve discomfort that interferes with living a peaceful life. Properly performed procedures help relieve muscle atrophy, improve lymph outflow, and saturate tissues with oxygen and nutrients.
How to massage the knee joint? First you need to study the anatomical structure of the presented area. This is required because there is a complex articulation of muscles, ligaments and bone tissue here, which provides the shock-absorbing ability of this part of the body. You need to act carefully so as not to cause additional harm to health.
Mu Yuchun Knee Massage
Mu Yuchun is the champion of China in the sanda section, a representative of the International Federation of Dachengquan and a famous specialist in wushi. The Chinese master regularly conducts lectures and seminars where he teaches everyone unique massage techniques to restore health. In particular, he always recommends self-massage of the legs - both when the knee hurts and when there are no visible problems.
Proper massaging of the knee joints has a number of undoubted advantages. It has a positive effect both in injuries and the initial stages of diseases, and in the later stages of serious changes in the joint, such as gonarthrosis. In addition to the therapeutic option, it is necessary to practice self-massage and use a joint massager.
Carrying out procedures in the clinic
Even if at first this massage technique seems easy to you, you should never practice it on your own without proper training. Before performing the procedure, specialists at the Osteomed clinic must determine the location of the periarticular mucous bursae, the presence of effusion, range of motion and many other factors, ignorance of which can lead to injury and pain.
The course is prescribed in the absence of acute pain, and its price will depend entirely on the reason for the procedures, the number of required sessions determined by the massage therapist and the need for accompanying procedures, such as mud and mineral baths, muscle massaging, gymnastics and others.
Also, the price of joint massage in St. Petersburg is determined by the person receiving the procedure (as a rule, sessions for children are cheaper), the duration of the procedure, as well as the qualifications and skill of the massage therapist. Osteomed Clinic cares about your health and tries to provide the highest quality services at the best prices.
