DINAMICS OF KNEE JOINT SPACE ASYMMETRY ON X-RAY AS A MARKER OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS REHABILITATION EFFICACY.

Reducing of articular cartilage functional volume in knee joint osteoarthritis occurs unevenly and accompanied with pathological changes of lower limb axis as a result of connective tissue and muscle structures dysfunction. Evaluation of X-ray knee joint space asymmetry seems to be informative to analyze the dynamics of lower extremities biomechanical imbalances characteristic for knee joint osteoarthritis. However, standardized method of X-ray joint space determining does not include its symmetry calculation. The purpose of the study was optimization of knee joint radiological examination by developing of X-ray knee joint space asymmetry index calculation method. The proposed method was used for comparative analysis of extracorporeal shock-wave therapy efficacy in 30 patients with knee joint osteoarthritis of 2-3 degrees (Kellgren-Lawrence, 1957). As a result of the conducted treatment statistically significant decrease of the X-ray knee joint space asymmetry index was observed (Me(Q1;Q3): Z=5.20, p<0.001) and amounted as 0.22 (0.18;0.24) before treatment and 0.12 (0.10;0.14) after. Also, statistically significant (Z=5.10; p=0.00001) changes of load asymmetry on front and rear foot sections were observed by the results of podometric survey in comparative assessment before (Me(Q1;Q3)=24(12;30)) and after (Me(Q1;Q3)=6(4;30)) course therapy. 30% (n=9) of the patients evaluated the outcome of the treatment as "excellent" (1 point), 63% (n=19) - as "good" (2 points) and only 7% (n=2) - as "acceptable" (3 points) according to the Roles and Maudsley score. The listed above data was regarded as an X-ray positive dynamics comparable with clinical improvement. Thus, the X-ray knee joint space asymmetry index, calculated according to the proposed method, allows to evaluate dynamics of articular surfaces congruency changes and provide differentiated approach to the treatment of knee joint osteoarthritis.

SHOCK-WAVE THERAPY APPLICATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE (REVIEW).

The article presents literature review on the use of extracorporeal shock-wave therapy in physiotherapeutic practice. The basic mechanisms of shock waves influence on the organism are spotlighted. Studies proving high efficacy of the method in treatment of wide variety of inflammatory diseases and traumatic genesis are presented. The data on comparative assessment of shock-wave therapy efficacy, and results of researches on possibility of extracorporeal shock-wave therapy effect potentiating in combination with other therapeutic methods are reflected. Recent years, the range of indications for shock-wave therapy application had been significantly widened. However, further study of the method is still relevant because mechanisms of action of the factor are studied insufficiently; methods of therapy parameters selection (energy flux density, number of pulses per treatment, duration of a course) are either advisory or empirical.