Full range of orthopedic services from diagnosis to rehabilitation. We provide assistance with injuries and diseases of the joints, as well as sports injuries.
Rehabilitation After Arthroscopy: What You Need to Know
After joint arthroscopy, it is necessary to restore movement, weight-bearing ability, muscle strength, and the capacity to tolerate everyday activity.
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Shoulder and Arm Pain: Causes and Treatment
The shoulder has a wide range of motion, which makes it particularly sensitive to injuries, overuse, and inflammatory changes.
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Intra-Articular Injections: Indications and Risks
Intra-articular injections are a common treatment option for joint pain. They may provide relatively rapid relief, improve mobility, and help a person return to everyday activities.
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Ankylosing Spondylitis: What It Is, Symptoms, and Diagnosis
Ankylosing spondylitis, also known as Bechterew’s disease, is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the spine and sacroiliac joints. Over time, it can limit mobility and significantly affect quality of life.
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Osteoarthritis of the Joints: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the entire joint in which the articular cartilage gradually deteriorates, bone tissue changes, and the surrounding joint structures function less effectively.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms and Rheumatoid Factor
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects the joints, tendon sheaths, and other tissues throughout the body.
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De Quervain’s Disease: Symptoms and Treatment Methods
De Quervain’s disease, also known as De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, is a condition affecting the first extensor compartment of the wrist. The thumb tendons pass through a narrowed tunnel and begin to glide with pain.
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Hygroma: Causes and Effective Treatment
A hygroma is a superficial, bony formation near a joint or tendon canal that most often appears on the hand, wrist, or fingers.
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Trigger Finger (Stenosing Tenosynovitis)
Stenosing ligamentitis disrupts the normal gliding of the finger tendon and gradually makes the usual hand movements more difficult. At first, a person feels stiffness, then a painful clicking appears, and at later stages the finger becomes fixed in a bent position.
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Why Does a Finger Hurt: Main Causes and Treatment
Pain in the finger appears after injury, overload, inflammation or compression of the nerve. The symptom itself does not indicate one specific problem, because the source of discomfort can be a joint, tendons, ligaments, nerve or surrounding soft tissues.
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Joint Contracture: Causes, Symptoms, Types, and Treatment Methods
Joint contracture is a persistent decrease in range of motion due to changes in the soft tissues and other structures around the joint. This condition interferes with everyday activities and can significantly worsen quality of life.
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Can You Run with Osteoarthritis?
When running with arthrosis is possible, in which cases it is strictly not recommended, and what alternatives should be considered in order to maintain movement without harm to the joints - says Vasily Mellen, orthopedic surgeon and traumatologist of Mashtaler Ortho&Trauma Clinic.
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What Are Compression Stockings?
When people think about treatment of the musculoskeletal system, they usually imagine surgery, fixation, and exercise. However, there is another component that works almost unnoticed while significantly affecting the recovery process: compression stockings.
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Rehabilitation and Life After Hip Replacement
The pain that caused sleepless nights, restricted movement, and changed daily habits disappears. In the first days after surgery, patients notice that it becomes easier to stand up and sit down. It is a relief to stop thinking about every step.
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Innovative Bikini Approach for Hip Replacement Surgery
Bikini approach is a relatively new, minimally invasive method that is distinguished by its delicacy, less trauma and expressive aesthetics.
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Donor Meniscus Transplantation
This is an important milestone, as the procedure has been performed only eight times in Ukraine.
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Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear
The anterior cruciate ligament connects the femur and the tibia, helping stabilize the knee during bending, pivoting, and walking.
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Super Inductive System
Super Inductive System (also known as High-Intensity Magnetotherapy) is a modern, effective, and safe method of pain treatment that works without invasive intervention.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the entire joint in which the articular cartilage gradually deteriorates, bone tissue changes, and the surrounding joint structures function less effectively. Joint pain, stiffness, clicking, and limited mobility can directly affect walking, work, sleep, and everyday activities.
In modern medical literature, the condition is increasingly referred to as osteoarthritis rather than simply cartilage degeneration because inflammatory changes also occur within the joint tissues. However, the term osteoarthrosis is still widely used in clinical practice and among patients. For this reason, both terms may be used in this article.
Below, we explain the causes of osteoarthritis, its main symptoms and stages, diagnostic methods, treatment options, and the situations in which medical evaluation should not be delayed.
What Is Osteoarthritis of the Joints?
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition that affects several structures, including:
articular cartilage;
subchondral bone;
the synovial membrane;
ligaments;
the joint capsule;
muscles surrounding the affected joint.
In a healthy joint, cartilage provides a smooth surface that allows the bones to glide against each other. There is enough synovial fluid to lubricate the joint, and mechanical load is distributed evenly. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage gradually becomes thinner. The joint space narrows, while the bone responds by becoming denser and forming bony growths.
The main problem is a loss of balance between the mechanical load placed on the joint and the ability of its tissues to recover. As a result, the joint functions less effectively, becomes painful more often, and tolerates everyday movement less well.
Causes of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis develops when a joint is exposed to more mechanical stress over many years than its tissues can tolerate.
The main causes and contributing factors include:
previous injuries to the joint, menisci, ligaments, or articular surfaces;
excess body weight, which increases the load on the knees, hips, and ankles;
prolonged work in a squatting or kneeling position, lifting heavy objects, or performing repetitive movements;
congenital or acquired abnormalities in limb alignment;
muscle weakness after injury, surgery, or a sedentary lifestyle;
inflammatory joint conditions that accelerate damage to the cartilage and joint capsule.
The longer a joint functions with altered biomechanics, the faster degenerative changes may progress. For this reason, treatment always begins with an assessment of the underlying cause, mechanical load, and movement function.
Main Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
The symptoms of osteoarthritis are usually recognizable: pain during activity, brief stiffness after rest, clicking or grinding sensations, swelling, and a gradual reduction in range of motion. In the early stages, discomfort often appears after prolonged walking, climbing stairs, or physical work.
Typical signs include:
joint pain during movement or after activity;
stiffness after sleep or prolonged sitting;
clicking, grinding, or a burning sensation during movement;
occasional swelling caused by irritation of the synovial membrane;
reduced range of flexion or extension;
joint deformity in the later stages;
pain at rest when the joint is severely affected.
One of the most concerning patterns is gradually becoming accustomed to pain. The patient begins moving less, the muscles weaken, and the load on the joints becomes even less balanced. As a result, quality of life may decline more quickly.
Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Features of the Condition
The knee is often affected because it must tolerate a combination of body weight, walking, climbing stairs, squatting, and the consequences of previous injuries. Knee osteoarthritis usually begins with pain during activity. Over time, stiffness, swelling, limping, and reduced confidence during movement may develop.
Typical symptoms affecting the knee include:
pain when walking downstairs;
discomfort after prolonged walking;
swelling after an active day;
a feeling of instability;
difficulty fully bending or straightening the knee;
changes in leg alignment as the disease progresses.
When the inner compartment of the knee is affected, mechanical load becomes concentrated on one side of the joint. The joint space then narrows unevenly, deformity develops, and walking becomes less stable.
Stages of Osteoarthritis
The stage of osteoarthritis reflects the severity of structural changes within the joint. The doctor evaluates symptoms, physical examination findings, X-ray results, and the function of the affected joint.
In clinical practice, four main stages are commonly distinguished:
Stage I. Pain appears after activity, while X-ray changes are minimal. The cartilage has already begun responding to excessive load, but there is no significant deformity.
Stage II. Bony growths begin to form, and the joint space starts to narrow. Pain occurs more often, while stiffness after rest becomes more noticeable.
Stage III. The cartilage becomes significantly thinner, movement is limited, and loading the joint causes persistent pain. At this stage, the patient may already change their walking pattern or avoid certain everyday activities.
Stage IV. The joint is severely deformed, most of the cartilage has been lost, and the bones are separated by only a minimal layer of tissue. Pain is present both during walking and at rest.
Diagnosis and treatment are always individualized. Two patients with the same radiographic stage may experience different levels of pain, muscle strength, and physical activity.
Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis
Diagnosis begins with an examination by an orthopedic trauma specialist. The doctor asks about the location of pain, how long the symptoms have been present, previous injuries, physical activity levels, occupational strain, and limitations in everyday life.
During the examination, the doctor assesses:
range of motion;
areas of tenderness;
swelling and local temperature;
limb alignment;
ligament stability;
muscle strength;
walking pattern and load distribution.
The basic imaging method is an X-ray, often performed while the joint is bearing weight. It shows the width of the joint space, osteophytes, deformity, bone condition, and limb alignment.
Additional imaging with ultrasound or MRI may be recommended when the doctor needs to assess the menisci, ligaments, cartilage defects, or other intra-articular damage. Blood tests may be required when rheumatoid arthritis, gout, infection, or another inflammatory condition is suspected.
Treatment of Osteoarthritis
The goals of osteoarthritis treatment are to reduce pain, restore movement, and slow the loss of function. The treatment plan is selected individually because disease stage, body weight, age, occupation, previous injuries, and the desired activity level all influence the most appropriate strategy.
Basic treatment methods include:
controlled reduction of load on the affected joint;
therapeutic exercise to restore strength and movement control;
weight management when excess body weight is present;
topical or oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications prescribed by a doctor;
intra-articular injections for significant pain or inflammation;
braces, insoles, a walking stick, or other methods of reducing joint load;
rehabilitation to restore stability and endurance;
surgery for persistent pain, deformity, and loss of function.
No tablet or injection can restore worn cartilage to its original thickness. However, appropriate treatment can reduce pain, improve movement, stabilize the joint, and help the patient return to a more active lifestyle.
Treatment Methods for Knee Osteoarthritis
Treatment of knee osteoarthritis begins with load management, exercise, and correction of the factors responsible for excessive stress. If knee pain is related to weak hip muscles, excess weight, instability, or altered limb alignment, pain medication alone will not solve the underlying problem.
The main treatment options include:
Rehabilitation. Exercises strengthen the quadriceps, gluteal muscles, calf muscles, and core. This improves joint stability and reduces pain during activity.
Medication. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications reduce pain and inflammation, but their use must take into account the condition of the stomach, kidneys, heart, and other individual risks.
Intra-articular injections. Corticosteroids may provide short-term pain relief when active inflammation is present. Biological treatment methods may be considered after the disease stage, cartilage condition, and patient expectations have been assessed.
Orthopedic load reduction. Braces, insoles, a walking stick, and changes in movement technique help reduce pressure on the overloaded part of the knee.
Joint-preserving surgery. Osteotomy may be used when there is limb axis deformity and the disease mainly affects one compartment of the joint.
Joint replacement. Joint replacement surgery is indicated in severe osteoarthritis when pain, deformity, and limited mobility significantly reduce quality of life and conservative treatment is no longer effective.
Arthroscopy has limited indications, such as mechanical locking, loose bodies within the joint, or certain associated injuries. In osteoarthritis, arthroscopy does not restore cartilage or change the progression of the disease.
Prevention of Osteoarthritis
Prevention is based on a simple principle: joints need regular movement without constant overloading. The most effective preventive measures include weight management, strong muscles, proper movement technique, and timely treatment of injuries.
To reduce the risk of osteoarthritis, it is important to:
maintain a healthy body weight;
strengthen the muscles around the knees, hips, shoulders, and back;
control the amount of running, squatting, jumping, and weight training;
fully treat injuries to the ligaments, menisci, and cartilage before returning to full activity;
avoid sudden increases in training volume;
take breaks during repetitive physical work;
see a doctor if swelling, joint locking, or recurrent pain develops.
Complete avoidance of movement can be just as harmful as excessive strain. Joints need regular activity, while muscles need sufficient strength to absorb part of the mechanical load.
When to See a Doctor
You should see a doctor if joint pain continues for several weeks, repeatedly returns after activity, or is accompanied by swelling. Early examination helps identify the cause of pain before permanent mobility limitations develop.
An appointment with an orthopedic trauma specialist should not be delayed if you experience:
pain at rest or during the night;
swelling after ordinary activity;
visible joint deformity;
a sudden reduction in range of motion;
locking, catching, or a feeling of instability;
limping;
pain after an injury;
a rapid decline in quality of life.
The earlier the disease stage, cause of overload, and actual condition of the articular cartilage are identified, the more accurately treatment can be selected to restore movement and control pain.
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