変形性足関節症

Osteoarthritis of the Ankle

足関節は、脛骨、腓骨、距骨の三つの骨で構成された関節です。関節は軟骨に覆われていて、軟骨は関節が体重を支えたり、なめらかに動いたりする上で重要な役割をしています。変形性足関節症は、加齢変性や、過去のケガなど、足関節の軟骨が何らかの原因ですり減ってしまい、痛みや腫れを生じます。初期の症状としては、足関節に、起床時・歩き始めの違和感や、長時間歩行後の鈍痛を感じます。また正座をした際などに、足関節の内側に痛みが感じたりします。進行すれば、歩行時の痛みが増悪して歩きづらくなり、安静時にも痛みを感じるようになります。変形性足関節症には、明らかな原因がない「一次性」、関節リウマチや痛風などの関節炎に続発する「二次性」、足関節捻挫、足関節の骨折などの外傷に続発する「外傷性」に分類されています。まずは整形外科での受診をおすすめします。鍼灸治療としては、疼痛緩和をして、日常生活をするうえで、痛みの軽減をはかることができます。治療と並行して、重労働、長時間の立ち仕事、スポーツなどの制限、肥満があれば、足関節への負荷が少ない運動指導によって減量を目指し、足関節への荷重、ストレスを減らしていきます

The ankle joint is a joint composed of three bones: the tibia, fibula, and talus. The joint is covered with cartilage, which plays an important role in the joint's ability to support weight and move smoothly. Osteoarthritis of the ankle joint occurs when the cartilage in the ankle joint wears down for some reason, such as age-related degeneration or a past injury, resulting in pain and swelling. Early symptoms include discomfort in the ankle joint upon waking up or beginning to walk, and dull pain after prolonged walking. Pain may also be felt on the inside of the ankle joint when sitting on the floor. As the disease progresses, the pain worsens during walking, making it difficult to walk, and pain is felt even when at rest. Osteoarthritis of the ankle is classified into "primary," which has no apparent cause, "secondary," which is secondary to arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout, and "traumatic," which is secondary to trauma such as an ankle joint sprain or ankle joint fracture. First, a visit to an orthopedic surgeon is recommended. Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment can provide pain relief and reduce pain in daily life. In parallel with treatment, restrictions on heavy labor, prolonged standing, sports, etc., and if the patient is obese, weight loss is aimed at through exercise guidance that reduces the load and stress on the ankle joint.