Rheumatism is a chronic disease that affects various parts of the musculoskeletal system. It is accompanied by pain and can affect people of all ages. Contrary to popular opinion, it is a disease not only of the elderly. Selected rheumatic diseases occur mainly in young people, whose age does not protect against troublesome ailment.
- rheumatoid arthritis (RA) – first attacks the joints of the hands and feet, causing inflammation – the joints swell and hurt. Morning stiffness may occur. Over time, inflammation can spread to other joints and other organs. The pain accompanying the disease makes it impossible to perform daily duties and deprives you of sleep.
- juvenile rheumatoid arthritis – affects people before the age of 16; symptoms similar to those of RA, except that the disease starts in the knee joints
- psoriatic arthritis – a disease occurring in 20-30% of people with psoriasis, including children
- ankylosing spondylitis (Bechterew’s disease) – a disease mainly in men aged 15 to 30 years. Inflammatory changes in the vertebrae of the spine cause stiffening and rounding of the back.
What can help?
In addition to traditional treatment with pharmaceuticals, it is worth reaching for other types of therapy that will effectively support the fight against a painful and burdensome disease.
Thermotherapy – cold and heat treatment. Heating dilates blood and lymphatic vessels, increasing blood flow through diseased areas, supporting the treatment of inflammation. It also has a pain relieving effect, reducing muscle tension and joint stiffness. The simplest form of this therapy are warm and moist compresses that can be used independently at home. cryotherapy reduces the secretion of substances that cause pain and inflammation. This causes the muscles to relax and the swelling to disappear. It is used during acute inflammation (opposite to heat treatment) – at home used as cold showers, cool baths, ice compresses.
Elektrotherapy – treatments using different types of electricity. They improve blood supply to tissues, relax muscles and reduce pain. This type of treatment includes galvanization, i.e. applying low-frequency current to the affected areas; iontophoresis, i.e. the introduction of drugs through the skin into the tissues using direct current.
Kinesiotherapy, or therapeutic and rehabilitation gymnastics. Exercises matched to the disease and the capabilities of the sick person are the most effective form of combating rheumatic diseases. They prevent joint deformations and have a significant impact on maintaining physical fitness. They also help to reduce joint pain.
It should be remembered that a set of exercises should be developed by a specialist physiotherapist. Their performance should also be supervised by a professional person so that they do not result in injury. At a later stage of the exercises, they will be possible to perform at home on your own.