Gonarthrosis
Osteoarthritis of the knee: no reason to stop moving
Understand osteoarthritis of the knee and do something to alleviate knee pain
We’d like to support you to lead an active life despite osteoarthritis of the knee: without pain medication, treatment requirements or surgery. Have you taken our self-test for osteoarthritis of the knee? Or have you been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee and you want to find out more about it?
This section will provide you with comprehensive information about treatment options, our products and other patient journeys.
We would also like to prepare you for what may be your first visit to a medical supply retailer. In the following document that you can download, we summarized how Bauerfeind can help you in the case of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Osteoarthritis of the knee:
The right product for every stage
Osteoarthritis of the knee can be divided into different stages or grades. It always starts with cartilage damage that progresses through four levels of severity.
With osteoarthritis of the knee grade 1, pain usually occurs only when the knee joint is subjected to strain. The cartilage layer becomes softer but is not yet damaged on the surface. If you don’t have a leg misalignment, the GenuTrain A3, for example, can help during this initial level of severity. It stabilizes and relieves the painful knee joint.
With osteoarthritis of the knee grade 2, people feel pain when moving. The cartilage has been significantly damaged and the joint space, the area between femur and tibia bone has become visibly narrower. In the third stage, people suffer from pain even when at rest. Those affected sometimes suffer from deep cartilage fractures and initial joint inflammation. The GenuTrain OA, for example, is a suitable product for grades 2 and 3. It provides targeted relief and stabilization in these painful areas on the inside and outside of the knee joint.
With osteoarthritis of the knee grade 4, restrictions in movement increase significantly, and the cartilage surfaces are largely destroyed. In order to compensate for the significantly increased pressure on the bone underneath, bulges form on the edge of the bone, which are called osteophytes. Eventually, the cartilage layer is almost completely worn away, and there is hardly anything left to prevent the bones from rubbing against each other. In these cases, the SecuTec OA can offer help. It was specially developed for patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee. The orthosis not only effectively alleviates pain, but also gives you the necessary confidence to get moving again, which promotes recovery.
Self-test: Do you suffer from gonarthrosis?
If you are not sure whether you are suffering from knee osteoarthritis, our self-test can give you an initial assessment. However, for a more precise and reliable diagnosis, you should definitely consult an experienced doctor.
Joint damage occurs when the external forces and loads are greater than the individual resilience of the cartilage.
Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Sell
Medical Director Gelenkzentrum Schwarzwald
Good to know: risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis of the knee
Certain risk factors can advance the development of secondary osteoarthritis of the knee and accelerate the progression of the condition.
Risk factors for osteoarthritis include general injuries of the joint structures that are caused by repeated excessive strain or an accident. This means that sports and occupational strain exerting a lot of pressure on the joints can lead to osteoarthritis of the knee. In the same way, pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, gout or necrosis of the femoral head can result in osteoarthritis of the knee.
Another risk factor for osteoarthritis is being overweight or obese. Based on the 2010 GEDA study, a positive linear connection was observed between the development of osteoarthritis of the knee and the Body Mass Index (BMI). Furthermore, various scientific studies established that obesity generally advances the progression of the condition.
Osteoarthritis of the knee can be advanced by joint misalignments and the pressure they exert. A misalignment of the legs can cause one-sided wear. Knock knees, for example, lead to osteoarthritis of the outside of the knee (valgus osteoarthritis), and bandy legs result in osteoarthritis of the inside of the knee (varus osteoarthritis). If such a misalignment exists, the mechanical strain can be minimized with a correction of the leg axis position. This may delay the progression of osteoarthritis.
Being well prepared for visiting a medical supply retailer
There is no magic cure for osteoarthritis of the knee. Depending on which level of severity you have been diagnosed with, a specific support or orthosis is suitable for you. In addition, a possible misalignment of your legs as well as your fitness play an important role when selecting the right product. As you can see: our medical supply retail partners provide a great service to ensure you can get a precisely fitting product that will really help you. We would like to support you for what may be your first visit to a medical supply retailer. That’s why we created a guideline for you that summarizes how Bauerfeind can help you in the case of osteoarthritis of the knee. You can simply download it and take it with you to the medical supply retailer to be perfectly prepared for your consultation.
Osteoarthritis of the knee
How Jana gets going despite the condition
Osteoarthritis patient Jana dismissed the early signs of her osteoarthritis of the knee for many years. It was a painful fall that eventually caused her to wake up. Now she does everything to remain mobile and to enjoy life.
Knee supports and orthoses to combat knee pain
So you can rely on your knees again
We're sure we have the right product for your needs. Treat knee pain, conditions and injuries with our knee supports and orthoses. And return to your active lifestyle, despite osteoarthritis of the knee.
An in-depth look at osteoarthritis of the knee
Osteoarthritis of the knee: what really helps
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A combination of several treatments helps with osteoarthritis of the knee. Medication, proper nutrition, exercise along with supports and orthoses.
A life worth living, despite knee pain
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Jana suffers from knee pain due to osteoarthritis. Find out what she does about it, and how she keeps active despite the osteoarthritis!
Osteoarthritis of the knee: exercise instead of pills
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How non-surgical treatment options can delay knee surgery, and which medication is effective in cases of osteoarthritis
Sporty and active at an older age despite osteoarthritis
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Senior citizen and elite athlete Wilhelm Kraatz is still successful in his late 70s. Even his osteoarthritis of the knee can’t stop him.
Knee supports and orthoses provide relief and stabilization
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Osteoarthritis of the knee may not be curable but its progression can be slowed with the appropriate treatment.
Diet for osteoarthritis of the knee
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Anyone with osteoarthritis of the knee should eat a healthy and balanced diet. We reveal how it works.
Movement starts with a tap
Train whenever and wherever you want!
Our medical aids provide pain relief and stabilization. To support you even further in getting active, we have developed the therapy app. It guides you through personalized exercises to help you get moving. The app also motivates you to improve your mobility and enhance your well-being.
