Polyarthrosis: Therapy

General measures

Nicotine restriction (refraining from tobacco use).
Aim for normal weight! Determination of BMI (body mass index, body mass index) or body composition by means of electrical impedance analysis and, if necessary, participation in a medically supervised weight loss program or program for underweight.
Avoidance of:
- Overloading of the joints, for example, by competitive and high-performance sports or long-lasting heavy physical loads, for example, in the profession (construction workers, especially floor layers).
- Lack of physical activity – since the cartilage gets its micronutrients from the synovial fluid, it is dependent on the joint being moved
- For finger joint arthritis: do not carry heavy shopping bags, suitcases, boxes, etc.

Therapy with chondroprotectants (cartilage protection preparations) – supplements (vital substances) containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are considered suitable chondroprotectants.

Orthopedic aids are of importance for a mechanical load distribution. There are the following options:

Footwear with good cushioning! (Buffer heels, if necessary shoe elevation).
Walking stick
Orthosis – orthopedic device for relief and immobilization of the affected joints.
- Z. E.g., orthoses of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb or the DIP (Articulationes interphalangeales distales) – for finger joint polyarthrosis; results in pain reduction and improvement of grip strength

Nutritional counseling based on nutritional analysis
Nutritional recommendations according to a mixed diet taking into account the disease at hand. This means, among other things:
- A total of 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruit daily (≥ 400 g; 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit).
- Once or twice a week fresh sea fish, i.e. fatty marine fish (omega-3 fatty acids) such as salmon, herring, mackerel.
- High-fiber diet (whole grains, vegetables).
Selection of appropriate food based on the nutritional analysis
See also under “Therapy with micronutrients (vital substances)” – Taking a suitable dietary supplement.
Detailed information on nutritional medicine you will receive from us.

Endurance training (cardio training) and strength training (muscle training).
Preparation of a fitness or training plan with appropriate sports disciplines based on a medical check (health check or athlete check).
Detailed information on sports medicine you will receive from us.

Physical therapy can help alleviate symptoms. It offers a wide range of treatment methods that support the therapy of polyarthrosis:

Exercise therapy – cycling, swimming, or walking can help slow the degenerative process
Occupational therapy – finger joint osteoarthritis: here patients learn on the one hand, which hand movements in everyday life go particularly on the joints and on the other hand, how to relieve the fingers. The finger joints can be spared by handle reinforcements of pens. If there is arthrosis of the thumb saddle joint (rhizarthrosis), the application of splints is recommended. This will relieve the pain.
Thermotherapy, this consists of heat and cold therapy (cryotherapy):
- Heat therapy in the form of balneotherapy or electrothermotherapy has an analgesic effect (relieves pain); it is used for painful joints that are “cold”; on the other hand, if there is evidence of activation of osteoarthritis – that is, heat, redness and swelling – cold therapy is the drug of choice
- Cryotherapy is used only in cases of active, inflammatory polyarthrosis.

Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy (PMT) – physical procedure that usually uses pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) to improve microcirculation and stimulate and regulate cellular and energy balance.