Eureka! Institutional Repository

The knee is the most overwhelmed joint. Knee osteoarthritis is defined as the pathology in which the knee joint degenerates progressively and consequently causes the destruction of cartilage and joint surfaces associated with the production of reactive new bone tissue and synovial fibrosis. It is distinguished in primary and secondary, which has no clear cause of onset. Knee osteoarthritis initially occurs with pain after activities and in later stages with intense morning stiffness and pain during rest. Various factors can cause osteoarthritis in the knee joint, including mechanical factors, increased body weight and rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this dissertation is to present the specific pathology, to study the effect of various physiotherapeutic techniques on the restoration of this condition and briefly to present the total knee replacement and the physiotherapy program to be followed if conservative treatment fails. Initially, anatomy and knee joint kinesiology, evaluation and treatment of knee osteoarthritis are presented. Then, the physiotherapeutic intervention found in the literature and the article is studied and whether these methods are scientifically documented. Physiotherapeutic intervention also includes physical methods such as laser and ultrasound, manual therapy, healing exercises and stretching, kinesio taping and hydrotherapy. Additionally, this work is briefly referring to the pharmaceutical treatment of the disease, the surgical methods that can be applied and the rehabilitation program both preoperatively and postoperatively. Finally, it is concluded that physiotherapeutic intervention should be present from the early stages of the disease, as it is particularly important for the patient to receive a complete therapeutic intervention. The application of therapeutic exercises in combination with the use of natural remedies and chiropractic therapy is suggested as an ideal intervention. However, the physical condition of the patient should be improved, something that hydrotherapy helps.