Exercises For People With Avascular Necrosis

Exercises For People With Avascular Necrosis

Avascular necrosis, or osteonecrosis, is a condition in which the bone tissues die because of a deficiency in the blood supply. This can happen for several reasons, such as high doses of corticosteroids, injuries, excessive alcohol consumption, chemotherapy, radiation and sickle cell anemia. Osteonecrosis can affect any bone, but it commonly occurs in the hip joint. It is often recommended to exercise as part of the initial treatment plan to promote bone repair and delay surgery.

Benefits of exercise

Exercise promotes blood circulation to the joints. This provides the nutrients that bone needs to heal while relieving pain. A study published in 2006 in the "Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery" established that physiotherapy as the only treatment was as effective as the combination of surgery and physiotherapy for patients with osteonecrosis of the head of the femur. 82% of the base population treated with core decompression and physiotherapy reported not having experienced femoral head subsidence after three years, compared to 86% that was only treated with physiotherapy. The researchers mentioned that 90% of patients will experience a femoral head collapse within five years after diagnosis. This suggests that physiotherapy can be an effective way to avoid surgery.

Amplitude of movement exercises

The objective of these exercises is to maintain or increase joint flexibility. The avascular necrosis can cause stiffness in the joints and hinder mobility. Sometimes, this may go unnoticed for some time, therefore, it is essential to start with the exercises immediately after the diagnosis.

Strengthening exercises

The goal of strengthening exercises is to increase the muscle mass that surrounds the joints to protect them from injury. These include lifting weights or exercises with resistance bands.

Exercises to Avoid

The Oncology Center at the University of California, Davis, reports that one of the best things you can do to delay the damage is to avoid weight-bearing exercises that involve the joints affected. By doing so, the pressure exerted on the bone is reduced, allowing its healing. Your doctor can recommend the use of devices, such as crutches, to reduce the weight on the affected joint. In addition, it is likely that you suggest reducing activities that involve weight bearing or change to another type of exercise.

Considerations

Your doctor will determine the appropriate exercises for you. These activities are often recommended as part of the initial treatment if the diagnosis is early and it is still possible to reduce the damage to the joint damage. Unfortunately, in many cases, exercise will only delay surgery and relieve pain momentarily. Eventually, most people will have to undergo surgery to repair the bone.

Video Tutorial: Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Head: `Eight Methodes to Exercise` for Recuperation.

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