What does two cubits on the map mean? Elbow - a measure of length

Text: Tatiana Filimonova

“Sightseeing tours are not about us,” says Natalia Doroshenko, CEO of the travel company Sunhunters. Sunhunters (English: "hunters of the sun") - this is how the founders of the company call themselves and those who went with them on a journey around the "circle of the earth." Two years ago, having returned from another trip with friends, Natalya decided to give up boring forms of relaxation. She did not go to travel agencies in search of “creativity”, but decided to open her own company, Sunhunters, specializing in around-the-world travel. At the same time, the company’s approach to circumnavigation is unusual - in Sunhunters, the entire “circle of the earth” is divided into 65 segments, each of which takes two weeks to overcome.

Natalya’s fatigue with the traditional leisure industry is understandable - out of her 27 years, she worked in regular tourism for nine years. To create the company, she needed 20 million rubles. The investors in the project, according to Natalya, were some “wealthy travel enthusiasts.” Deciding that most potential clients did not have enough free time to travel non-stop around the globe, Natalya divided the circumnavigation into segments. The routes are divided into two groups: “northern circumnavigation” and “southern circumnavigation”, which take place in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, respectively. Each circumnavigation consists of approximately 30 segments.

The first travelers set off from Lisbon to Casablanca and around India just this winter. Nowadays, 15-20 people are already on mini-round-the-world trips or are about to set off. Since the winter of 2008, when “sun hunters” began selling their services, 50 tours have already been conducted. Estimated SF, the company's income for the first half of 2008 exceeded 1 million euros.

The product that Sunhunters offers is designed for wealthy people. For example, a trip on a yacht around Europe will cost 8 thousand euros per person. For this money, the client receives not only housing (during stops, tourists are accommodated in five-star hotels), but also food and transportation services. However, air tickets are not included in the price of the trip - they must be purchased separately. Any group of travelers is accompanied by full-time guides, drivers and skippers of Sunhunters yachts. Tour participants are usually either a family of two or three people, or a group of friends or colleagues (five to six people). However, you can go on a trip alone.

Each tour introduces tourists to the culture and nature of one of the major regions of the planet. The routes are designed so that the “modern Magellan” can see all the exoticism of a certain part of the world. “For example, in the upcoming Chile-Argentina tour in January 2009, in two weeks we will cross the South American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, we will see everything that makes this continent unique: pampas, giant glaciers, canyons with lunar landscapes, we will cross the Andes twice,” - says Doroshenko. Travelers are sent to the starting point of the tour by plane, and then tourists move by sea or road. Intra-Russian tours, for example, a trip around Lake Baikal or Altai, are also part of the circumnavigation.

Natalya Doroshenko hopes that the flow of people wishing to travel around the Earth “piece by piece” will not dry up in the future, because even current clients, if they take a vacation twice a year, will need at least 15 years to go “the whole circle of the earth.”

Elbow in the world

Elbow lengths by country, table. 1848

The cubit is known as a measure among many peoples of the world. So, among the Egyptians the cubit was 45 cm, among the Greeks - 46.3 cm, among the Romans - 44.4 cm, ancient eastern - about 45 cm, Persian (royal) - about 53.3 cm, pigon (= 20 fingers) - approx. . 38.5 cm, Samian elbow - 28 fingers 518 mm. The Egyptian “small cubit” was 44.4 cm, the “royal cubit” was 52.5. The elbow was used in both African and Asian countries. Thus, the cubit in Morocco is 51.7 cm and 53.3, in Tunisia - 47.3, in Calcutta - 44.7, in Sri Lanka - up to 47 cm. The “double cubit of King Gudea of ​​Lagash” is also known (Sumer, XXII century BC), equal to 99-99.6 cm.

In Europe the beginning In the 19th century, cubits of different lengths were used in different lands. According to

Elbow in Russia

A cubit of 54 cm was equal to three spans of 18 cm. Small deviations from the average dimensions of the measure are quite natural; Taking into account the unconditional approximate nature of early units of measurement, they can be ignored. On the other hand, this cubit contains exactly two “tumbling spans” equal to 27 cm.

Since the 16th century, the cubit has been gradually replaced by the arshin. In particular, in the textbook by Franz Mozhnik, 1848 ed. German Elle and Polish Łokieć The Russian arshin has been brought into line.

Literature

• // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional ones). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
• Franz Mozhnik: Lehrbuch des gesammten Rechnens für die vierte Classe der Hauptschulen in den k.k. Staaten. Im Verlage der k.k. Schulbücher Verschleiß-Administration bey St. Anna in der Johannisgasse, Wien 1848.
• Karpushina N. Man-made measurements, Mathematics at school, No. 7, 2008.
• Sedova L.N. Questions of Russian metrology in lessons and extracurricular activities in mathematics. Yaroslavl 1999; .

see also

Notes

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

See what “Elbow (unit of length)” is in other dictionaries:

The cubit is a unit of measurement of length that does not have a specific value and approximately corresponds to the distance from the elbow joint to the end of the extended middle finger. Contents 1 Elkot in the world 2 Elokot in Russia 3 Literature ... Wikipedia

Contents 1 Distance units 1.1 Metric system 1.2 British/American system ... Wikipedia Isfahan cubit

Zira (Arabic cubit, gaz, zar, arash) is a measure of length in Muslim countries that does not have a specific meaning and approximately corresponds to the size of a cubit. Known since the Middle Ages. In Central Asia, the term gas was more often used to refer to the elbow... Wikipedia

Zira (Arabic cubit, gaz, zar, arash) is a measure of length in Muslim countries that does not have a specific meaning and approximately corresponds to the size of a cubit. Known since the Middle Ages. In Central Asia, the term gas was more often used to refer to the elbow... Wikipedia

Zira (Arabic cubit, gaz, zar, arash) is a measure of length in Muslim countries that does not have a specific meaning and approximately corresponds to the size of a cubit. Known since the Middle Ages. In Central Asia, the term gas was more often used to refer to the elbow... Wikipedia

Zira (Arabic cubit, gaz, zar, arash) is a measure of length in Muslim countries that does not have a specific meaning and approximately corresponds to the size of a cubit. Known since the Middle Ages. In Central Asia, the term gas was more often used to refer to the elbow... Wikipedia

In Karachay-Cherkessia, in the vicinity of Mount Chapal, at an altitude of about 2200 meters above sea level, there is a unique military facility - the Krona radio-optical space object recognition complex. With its help, the Russian military controls near and far space. A Rossiyskaya Gazeta journalist visited a specific military unit and found out how spy satellite hunters serve and whether UFOs exist.

Two cubits on the map

However, getting to the military observatory was not so easy. First of all, I had to correct the visit permit. Moreover, in the official request you had to indicate not only your passport data, but also the camera data: model, serial number, technical specifications, etc. Then, of course, I asked the special officer why this was necessary, and received a very comprehensive answer: “For the purpose of ensuring national security. Service, you understand.”

However, the real test was yet to come.

According to the official address, the Krona space complex was located in the village of Storozhevaya-2, but there was no such settlement on either paper or electronic maps. For all search queries, the navigator showed only one small village of Storozhevaya, lost in the foothills of the Caucasus Range. And in the village itself, in order to find out the way to “Krona”, I had to take a “language” - ask local residents about how to get to the unit. The village residents and children named a bridge, a store with a colorful sign, abandoned barns as landmarks, and when asked how far it was to the unit, as if by agreement, they answered: “Yes, it’s nearby. Two cubits on the map.”

This is the sense of humor that the Cossacks of the North Caucasus have...

A “concrete road” winding among fields and coniferous forests unexpectedly led to a checkpoint. The lieutenant on duty at the checkpoint explained the correct route for a long time, and then, apparently seeing my perplexed eyes, said:

Let me show you how to get to the “cosmonauts”. It's not far from here... Two cubits on the map.

I did not let the officer down and, of course, I got lost. First I went to a town where military families live. Then, weaving among the horses walking along the road, he ended up at the location of the mountain brigade. By the way, the mares and stallions we met along the way also turned out to be military men - from the only horse platoon in the country.

Completely desperate, I did not notice how the openwork structures of snow-white antennas appeared against the background of blue mountains. This was the brain center of Krona - a computer complex and command and measurement center.

Land of Flying Dogs

At the top of Mount Chapal there is a military observatory, the main link of which is a unique laser-optical locator (we will discuss it later), as well as several other objects for monitoring outer space. However, the military itself calls the site for astronomical observations “the land of flying dogs.” This is not a metaphor, but an eyewitness account of the strength of the winds on Chapala. Officers say a local dog was blown away during the construction of an optical telescope here. They brought in a few more, but they were all carried away. It may be an army tale, but the name stuck.

The winds here are really very strong, but the days and nights are clear almost all year round. It was the peculiarities of the atmosphere that became the decisive factor in choosing the future location of the Krona,” the deputy unit commander, Major Sergei Nesterenko, told me.

Construction of the complex began at the height of the Cold War in 1979. Then the arms race entered outer space: about three thousand artificial satellites revolved around the Earth. In addition, it was necessary to monitor the flights of ballistic missiles of a potential enemy. The situation required urgent measures to create specialized means of monitoring outer space. Soviet scientists have developed a complex that combines a radar station and an optical telescope. This design would make it possible to obtain maximum information about flying artificial satellites, from reflective characteristics in the radio range to photographs in the optical range.

Before the collapse of the USSR, it was planned to use MiG-31D fighter-interceptors as part of the Krona complex, which were intended to destroy enemy satellites in low-Earth orbit. After the events of 1991, testing of space fighters stopped.

Initially, Krona was planned to be located next to the civilian observatory in the village of Zelenchukskaya, but concerns about the creation of mutual interference with such close placement of objects led to the relocation of the radio-optical complex to the Storozhevoy area.

The construction and commissioning of all complex facilities took many years. Aerospace Defense officers serving at the complex say that military builders accomplished a real feat when more than 350 kilometers of power supply lines were laid in the mountains, over 40 thousand concrete slabs were laid, and 60 kilometers of water pipes were laid...

Although all major work was completed in 1984, due to financial difficulties the system was put into trial operation in November 1999. The adjustment of the equipment continued for several more years, and only in 2005 the Krona was put on combat duty. However, testing and modernization of the pearl of the complex - the laser optical locator - are still ongoing. After all, technology and science do not stand still.

Space debris portraitists

At the top of Mount Chapal there are optical means of the system, and below - radar ones. The uniqueness of the Krona complex lies precisely in the fact that there is no other facility in Russia that would concentrate the capabilities of optical and radar equipment, explained the deputy commander of the unit, Major Sergei Nesterenko.

Control of outer space begins with monitoring the hemisphere of the sky, detecting space objects and determining their trajectory. Then they are photographed, that is, optical images are obtained, which makes it possible to determine the appearance and movement parameters. The next stage of control is to determine the reflective characteristics of a space object in the decimeter, centimeter and optical wavelength ranges. And as a result - object recognition, identification of its affiliation, purpose and technical characteristics.

Optical facilities are located, as already mentioned, in the “land of flying dogs,” where the atmosphere is cleaner and where there are much more nights with cloudless skies than on the plain.

The main instrument - an optical telescope with a highly directional hood - is located in one of the buildings in a tower with a white dome that opens during operation.

It is this telescope, working as part of an optical-electronic system, that makes it possible to obtain images of space objects in reflected sunlight at a distance of up to 40 thousand kilometers. Simply put, we see all objects, including those with a diameter of up to 10 centimeters, in near and deep space,” said the commander of the duty crew, Major Alexander Lelekov.

Next to the telescope there is a structure in which the passive autonomous detection channel (ASC) equipment is located. In automatic mode, it detects unknown objects in its area of ​​the celestial sphere, determines their characteristics and transmits all this to the Space Control Center.

At the foot of Mount Chapal there is a computer complex and a command and measurement center. The second - radar - part of the complex is also located here. The radar operates in the decimeter (channel "A") and centimeter (channel "H") ranges.

By the way, a ZIL-131 truck could freely turn around on the antenna surface of Channel A.

The result is a detailed portrait of a space object in all necessary ranges. After computer processing, the data arrives at the Space Control Center in the Moscow region. There they are processed and entered into the Main Catalog of Space Objects,” says Major Lelekov. - Currently, only Americans have the ability to compile such an information base, who, in accordance with international treaties, regularly exchange this information. According to the latest data, more than 10 thousand space objects revolve around the Earth, including active domestic and foreign satellites. Space debris should be included in a separate category; according to various estimates, there are up to 100 thousand pieces of various debris in orbit.

Why are they dangerous?

First of all, uncontrollability. A collision with them can lead to disruption of communications, navigation, as well as to man-made accidents and disasters. For example, a small fragment measuring just over one centimeter can completely disable any satellite or even an orbital station like the ISS. But this is in space. And there may be consequences associated with the fall of space objects to Earth. For example, once a week an object larger than one meter leaves orbit. And our task is precisely to anticipate such a situation, to determine with what degree of probability it will occur, where, in what area the fall will occur. We consider situations related to changes in operating parameters, orbital characteristics, and dangerous approaches every day.

I'm not familiar with UFOs

Accompanied by officers, I go into the holy of holies - the command post of the unit. I am immediately warned that photography is limited here. It is strictly forbidden to photograph the work places of the duty officers.

Everywhere is impeccably clean. Unlike modern movies, where military or scientists display a lot of all kinds of equipment and computers, the interior here is spartan and more reminiscent of the 80s. Panels made of Karelian birch, bedside tables, desks, table lamps, rotary dial telephones...

On the walls there is homemade visual propaganda - hand-drawn posters about the space forces and the history of the unit. Tables with calculations on which locator readings are recorded in chalk. In the operating room, where several officers are on combat duty, there is a huge screen in front of the tables on which the entire space situation is projected. From the speakers come commands that only military stargazers can understand.

Only the Russian banner and portraits of the President and Minister of Defense remind us of modernity. In the red corner is the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

The local priest gave this to us when he blessed the optical locator,” says Alexander Lelekov.

I immediately remembered the ditties that were sung in 1961: “Gagarin flew into space but never saw God.” But, apparently, times are changing, and there are no atheists left among the military.

After observing the work of the crew on duty, I ask a question: do you believe in astrology and have you ever encountered unidentified flying objects during your work? After thinking for a few minutes, the major, with a smile like Yuri Gagarin, said:

Although I observe the stars and space, I don’t believe in astrology. I have been in the military for many years, before Krona I served at Pechora and in the Moscow region, but I have never encountered a UFO. All objects that we observe have a reasonable origin.

By the way

On July 10, the military, who monitor space from the village of Storozhevaya-2, will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the formation of the unit. The first commander of the unique military unit was Colonel Valery Bilyk. The Krona complex, which has no analogues in the world, was created under the leadership of Doctor of Technical Sciences Vladimir Sosulnikov, chief designers Sergei Kuzenkov and Nikolai Belkin. Transportation and installation of the telescope mirror in 1985 from Leningrad to the Karachay-Cherkess Republic took a whole month. Data on space observations carried out using Krona are classified.

The elbow as a part of the body, or more precisely, “the bending point on the arm,” is well known to everyone. Also, no one raises questions or surprises about the second meaning of this word, which relates to clothing. This is the place on the sleeve where it comes into contact with But today, not everyone knows that for several centuries this word was widely used in a third, now outdated meaning: cubit - a measure of length. It was used at different times by many peoples in different parts of the world, including the inhabitants of the ancient Russian state, and later of the Russian Empire.

Is the cubit a measure of length?

The reason for the emergence of such an unusual meaning of the word from the point of view of modern man was actually quite simple. Before the advent of traditional centimeters and other units of measurement that are familiar to us today, it was easiest to focus on what was familiar. These are, for example, various parts of the human body. Besides, they were always “with us.” What is the length of the fingers and hand or the size of the average step? How much weight can a person lift at one time? What is the distance between the extended thumb and index finger? In the old days, answers to these and other similar questions helped determine the weight, length, and height of objects. Of course, the data obtained were approximate and usually varied, but in the complete absence of a common measurement system for all, they almost completely solved the problem of determining values. Trying to improve and improve the results of their work, people gradually came to the conclusion that in certain territories (sometimes even within the same state) very specific data began to be assigned to each unit.

What did our compatriots use in the old days?

The ancient measure of length in Russian lands could have different names: vershok, span, elbow, arshin (or step), fathom, verst. Some appeared earlier, others a little later, but for quite a long time they were generally accepted in the state. Small units were widely used in the domestic sphere, the last two - most often for determining large distances between postal stations and populated areas.

Measuring with the elbow was widespread in trade and at first was ideal for merchants and shop owners when selling small pieces of linen, canvas, and cloth. Using it, landowners could easily determine the length of hemp rope or wool yarn in a skein. The elbow was also used in construction, for example, to determine the size of window and door openings.

In Rus' there were several versions of this simple and convenient measure. Thus, they distinguished a large elbow, which was twice as large as a normal one and was the length of the arm from the shoulder to the tips of the fingers. For some time it was the most popular measurement system in trade (later they began to measure the arshin in a similar way). There also existed an incomplete, two-palm, Ivan (it was officially established in Veliky Novgorod and its environs) cubit. For at least five to six centuries, this ancient measure of length was officially recognized and used throughout the Russian state. And the word “elbow” itself has been associated primarily with this meaning for a very long time. And only from the beginning of the 16th century in written sources began to assign to it a well-known meaning - a fold on the hand.

How was elbow size determined?

The main question that usually interests people who are discovering the meaning of the word that has gone out of use today is: “How much is an elbow?”

In search of an answer, you should first turn to official sources - explanatory dictionaries. Their very famous and authoritative compilers S. Ozhegov and D. Ushakov give a similar definition in one of the meanings, now marked “outdated.” They have a cubit - a measure of length used on the territory of the ancient Russian state and equal to approximately half a meter. However, if you turn to other literature, you can find completely different figures. Most often, 46-47 cm are given. Somewhere you can find a size of 38-46 cm and even more than 50 cm. Naturally, the question naturally arises: “What was the size of a cubit in the old days and what caused such a difference in determining its length?”

Arguing on this topic, we should remember that initially, even before the spread of numbers and units of measurement of various quantities, parts of the human body served as the “source” for determining their sizes, including the same elbow. However, all people have different physical characteristics and abilities. Consequently, the distance from the elbow bend of the hand to the tip of the middle finger or clenched fist (this is how the size of this unit was determined) was individual for each person. So it turned out that on the territory of almost every province in the Russian state the length of the elbow was different from others. In order to somehow achieve uniformity and restore order in at least one area, city governors sometimes established specific standards for this unit of measurement, and then all traders in markets and shops and buyers were guided by them. This order existed for quite a long time: from the 11th century (in any case, the first mention of elbow in the “Russian Truth” of Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise dates back to this time) and until the 16th century. Then it was replaced by the arshin, which was in effect in the Russian Empire until the advent of modern units of measurement.

From the history of determining elbow size

Very often, the key to understanding past historical phenomena is written sources that have preserved evidence of events that took place for centuries. So data on existing units of measurement can be obtained from books.

One of the first ancient Russian literary monuments was “The Walk of Abbot Daniel to the Holy Land,” written at the very beginning of the 12th century. Its author, a former monk, led a pilgrimage to Palestine and compiled a kind of report based on its results. It was this work that partly helped contemporaries find the answer to the question: “How much is an elbow?”

The fact is that in “Walking...” a detailed description is given of the main shrine of Jerusalem - the Holy Sepulcher, including its actual dimensions. Thus, Daniel noted that the length and width of the monument are related as four cubits to two. Later, already in the middle of the 17th century, another Russian clergyman - Patriarch Nikon - realized a very unusual, and for some, even a daring dream. On the shore, under his leadership, the majestic Resurrection was erected, practically repeating, but in a smaller size, the famous Palestinian buildings. An exact copy of the Holy Sepulcher was built in it, which had the same dimensions as in the Holy Land, but only indicated by the builders in arshins and vershoks. It was these two facts associated with the names of Daniel and Nikon that subsequently made it possible, by comparing the available data and simple arithmetic calculations, to find out that officially 1 cubit was equal to 46.6 cm. This figure is most often found when he is mentioned.

Ivan's elbow

There is other evidence of what this popular unit of length was like.

So, in the middle of the twentieth century, during archaeological excavations in the territory of the ancient city of Nizhny Novgorod, quite interesting things from a historical point of view and related to this topic were discovered. One of them was a rod, most likely made from a hollow juniper trunk and well polished by the palms of the hands (this fact proves that it was constantly in use). And evenly and neatly cut edges indicated that the item was preserved in its original form. After examining and determining the age of this unusual “stick,” it was concluded that it could have been a kind of standard of measure and was active in the city approximately in the 11th-12th centuries. At the same time, the length of the elbow (and the found rod was more consistent in size with it) was 54.7 cm.

A few years earlier, in the same area, a fifteen-centimeter fragment of a similar ruler was found, most likely dating back to a later period - the 14th century. Despite the damage, it even retained the Slavic inscription “Svatoivanos”.

These finds indicate that such standards could indeed exist, if not in all, then in the largest provincial centers. And they played the role of a control measure of length during sale. In this way, the authorities tried to protect the interests of traders and buyers.

What is longer: a fathom or an cubit?

In 1017, the famous monk of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Nestor, who went down in history as the first chronicler, mentions another native Russian unit of measurement. This is a fathom, which occupied the place next to the cubit on the scale. Its length was again approximate and determined in several ways. The most famous and widespread is the distance between the tips of the fingers of hands spread in different directions (this is the fly fathom). Another measurement option is from top to bottom from shoulder level to the floor. Finally, a straight line diagonally from the toe of the left foot to the tips of the fingers of the right hand, raised up. The word itself was formed from the Old Russian verb “to bend,” which meant “as far as one can reach with one’s hand.” All this, in fact, already gives an answer to the question of what is longer - a fathom or an elbow.

More accurate information can be obtained by familiarizing yourself with the following facts. In Rus', more than ten names of different fathom variants were common: small, oblique (or oblique), gorodovaya, makhovaya, royal, masonry and others. Their size ranged from 1.34 meters to two and a half meters or more. In addition, there is a story about a stone found with an inscription in Slavic. Prince Gleb, mentioned in it, took up the area, and to record the results he used the most suitable measure of length for this - the fathom. Much later, topographers, having studied the record and the relief on the ground, concluded that on average it was approximately one and a half meters. These data coincided with the fathom dimensions indicated by architects in various sources related to construction. It was also often used to determine not very large distances.

Thus, analysis of the data leads to the conclusion that the larger measure of length is the fathom. The elbow was an order of magnitude shorter, which means it was more suitable for measuring small-sized objects in everyday life.

Arshin instead of elbow

Since the 16th century, measuring with the elbow has gradually become a thing of the past. Moreover, several reasons for this phenomenon can be identified. One of them is related to the fact that at the turn of the 16th-17th centuries a “Trading Book” was published, intended for merchants and other sellers. She introduced a new measuring unit - the arshin - and fixed its approximate size - 71 cm. It was determined by measuring the distance from the shoulder to the end of the middle finger of an outstretched hand. Unlike the original Russian “elokto”, this word was “foreigner”. It came to Rus' from the East during the period of active development of trade relations between countries. The book contained a table of length measures, which indicated the following ratio of the new and old units: two arshins were equal to three cubits. For some time they existed in parallel and differed in their scope of use. Russian merchants still resorted to the elbow, while foreign merchants used the arshin. Gradually the latter began to be used more and more often. The first one began to lose its importance, and this despite the fact that it was for a long time that it was the main unit of measurement in trade.

Another reason lies in the fact that not all products sold are convenient to wrap around your elbow. It was much more convenient to measure the same fabric in meters. In addition, despite all the steps taken in the provinces, the size of the cubit varied significantly among different traders. And this ultimately led to increased discontent among the population. As a result, by the end of the 17th century, the original Russian unit of measurement - the elbow - almost completely fell out of use. Arshin stayed in Russia until the beginning of the twentieth century, when a new measurement system, close to the European one, was introduced.

Standards also played a certain role in the “struggle” between Russian and “foreign” units - this is the name given to wooden rulers with divisions marked on them. It was they who soon began to play the role of arshin. The next stage of its approval in Russia is noted at the moment when small spans and vershok began to be correlated with the new unit. And in order to prevent deception of buyers (each merchant initially measured the goods with his own ruler - just remember the saying “Measure by your yardstick”), the state introduced the so-called “official yardstick”, which had special metal rivets at the ends. Naturally, this measurement of length was more convenient than using the elbow.

As for the origin and meaning of the word “arshin,” no unambiguous explanation was given. Some associated its appearance with the Turkic “ar” (“earth”), others with the Persian “arsh” (“elbow”). Moreover, supporters of the first option concluded that when it appeared, the arshin could correlate with the size of a human step.

The country's past in folklore

For about a hundred years now, a new system of measuring length has existed in Russia, but evidence of the use of Old Russian units can often be found in works of art and folklore. In the latter case, this is not only evidence of the historical development of the people and the country as a whole, but also a kind of moral standard that has been developed over the centuries.

For example, the well-known proverb: “He’s as tall as a fingernail, but his beard is as tall as an elbow” indicates a person with an inconspicuous appearance, a significant authority in society, earned through intelligence, extensive life experience, or simply a stable social position. The roots of this interpretation go back to pre-Petrine times. Back then, a lush, well-groomed beard was a source of pride for noble people. That is why, having lost it by order of Peter the Great, the boyars felt humiliated and insulted. This is how the unit of length “cubit” began to be used in a figurative, namely evaluative meaning.

Another example. Proverb: “In the wrong hands there is a fingernail as big as an elbow,” which perfectly characterizes an envious and greedy person. Or: “You say it on a nail, but they will tell it on an elbow” - about an unkind rumor that tends to spread quite quickly.

Elbow in other countries of the world

A similar measure of length was used not only in Rus'. It has been known among many peoples since ancient times (and in some European countries it operated until the beginning of the 19th century). As you can already guess, the size of the elbow was different in each country. As an example, the following international table of length measures with this unit can be given.

Like Rus', there were also varieties of elbows here: large, small and even double (99-99.6 cm) - the Sumerian king of Lagash Gudea, who acted in the 22nd century BC. e. Usually merchants measured out fabric or other similar goods for them.

A relic of the past or a convenient line option?

Nowadays, the outdated meaning of the word “cubit” - a measure of length, of course, is no longer used, and knowledge of its history is more indicative of the intellectual level of human development. However, in life there are often times when you urgently need to measure something, but there is neither a ruler nor a so-called centimeter nearby. This is where man-made measures, common in the distant past, can come to the rescue. They will help you determine the size of small objects in a split second. To do this, it is enough to know, for example, what is the size of the distance between the outstretched index and thumb (this is the Old Russian span) or arms outstretched to the sides (fly fathom).

It is very easy to find out what an elbow is equal to. The distance from the tip of your middle finger to the bend of your elbow is your individual length measure.

Pain in the joints is not always directly related to their pathology - often unpleasant sensations are caused by damage to soft tissues. The most common of them is tenosynovitis (tenosynovitis), associated with inflammatory changes in the synovial membrane of the tendons. Normally, it provides additional support during movements, making them easier to perform due to the lubricant contained inside it.

Due to a variety of reasons, damage to this inner membrane can occur, after which an inflammatory process starts in it. Unlike degenerative diseases of the joints and soft tissues, tenosynovitis is an acute process. Therefore, with the timely use of therapeutic measures, it is possible to quickly eliminate the symptoms of inflammation, relieving the patient of unpleasant sensations when moving.

Although tendons run close to almost any joint, not every one of them is susceptible to the development of pathology. There are special points of the musculoskeletal system where the development of tenosynovitis is most often observed. These include ligaments of the wrist, knee and ankle joints. All of them have characteristic features of development and course, although treatment in each case is carried out according to the same principles.

Concept

Many patients are immediately frightened when they see the diagnosis of tenosynovitis in the chart or extract - what is it? The incomprehensible name immediately creates associations with a terrible and incurable disease that will lead to a sharp deterioration in health. But, in fact, almost every person suffers this pathology under the guise of a minor injury throughout their life.

Tenosynovitis occurs acutely in more than 90% of cases, and after completion does not leave any pathological changes. It is extremely rare (usually when the provoking factor remains active) that it becomes chronic. To understand this process more easily, we should consider it from the point of view of anatomy and physiology:

1. To reduce friction in the joint area, some ligaments are enclosed in separate or common synovial sheaths. These structures have a structure similar to the membranes of the joint.
2. The tendons are located in their cavity quite freely due to the liquid lubricant present inside - synovial fluid. This position allows them to slide freely relative to the surrounding soft tissues during movements in the joint.
3. Any damage - external or internal - provokes the development of an immune response. An acute inflammatory process begins in the area of ​​the defect.
4. Swelling of the synovial vagina leads to its narrowing, as well as a decrease in lubricant secretion. Therefore, the friction of the tendons gradually increases during repeated movements, which leads to an increase in mutual damage.
5. Constant mechanical irritation leads to activation of surrounding nerve endings, which contributes to the appearance of symptoms of the disease.

The course of the disease completely depends on the cause that caused its development - if the inflammation is nonspecific, then it is unlikely to leave behind pronounced consequences.

Development mechanisms

Although the common basis for the disease is the inflammatory process, its appearance can be caused by a wide variety of factors. For convenience, they can be divided into two large groups - traumatic and specific:

• Direct damage is much more common - it is associated with a direct blow to the area of ​​the synovial sheath, or caused by functional overload of the tendon. But in each case, the pathological mechanism is the same - mechanical damage to the membranes of the ligament. An inflammatory process develops in the area of ​​the defect, which is intensified by constant friction during movement.
• Specific direct damage is associated with a penetrating wound of the synovial membrane, through which microbes enter it. They already cause a real immune reaction, often accompanied by the development of purulent inflammation.
• A specific indirect lesion is considered reactive - this is a reflected reaction of the immune system to any general infection. Tenosynovitis often results from a viral illness, appearing several days or weeks after recovery.

Despite the variety of mechanisms, the disease in each case has similar symptoms, the origin of which can only be determined by questioning the patient.

Localization

Since the disease has general principles of its course, its manifestations in individual cases will also be very similar. Therefore, it is necessary to highlight some signs characteristic specifically for the development of tenosynovitis:

1. The main manifestation is always pain. Its distinctive feature is that it appears only during specific movements associated with the work of the affected tendon. With rest, the pain usually goes away completely.
2. An important diagnostic sign is a change in pain sensations during active or passive movements. If a person himself performs flexion or extension, then the unpleasant sensations are more pronounced. This is due to the contraction of muscles that actively act on the affected ligament.
3. When the lesion is located superficially, a change in the skin over the inflamed synovial vagina is noted. A small area of ​​redness appears, has a rounded outline, and is hot to the touch.
4. With pressure in the area of ​​this focus, you can feel a clearly defined nodule or cord-like compaction.
5. If at this moment you try to make a movement that provokes unpleasant sensations, you can detect a slight crunching sound - crepitus. It is associated with friction of the tendon against the inflamed and swollen walls of the synovial vagina.

Most often, tenosynovitis develops in the area of ​​joints bearing a constant functional load, which disrupts the healing process when the ligament membrane is damaged.

Knee-joint

This joint is surrounded by a large number of ligaments that have different functionalities. The lateral and posterior group of tendons do not have separate synovial sheaths, since they primarily perform a supporting function. Therefore, those formations that bear a constant dynamic load are more susceptible to the development of the disease:

• The most common lesion is the “crow's foot” – the area of ​​attachment of the semitendinosus, sartorius and gracilis muscles of the thigh. This place is located on the inner surface of the joint, and, due to the small size of the ligaments, is often involved in the pathological process. In this case, sharp pain occurs in the indicated area when walking or running, the appearance of a painful lump, and an area of ​​redness on the skin.
• Less commonly, the quadriceps femoris tendon is affected at the border with the upper pole of the patella. The disease always has a traumatic origin, and is caused by excessive sports or household stress. In this case, swelling occurs above the kneecap, local pain when extending the leg, and relative weakness of the quadriceps muscle.

Tenosynovitis of the knee joint rarely takes a chronic course, but it is capable of frequent relapses under the influence of these risk factors - injuries.

Ankle joint

The lesion in this localization is of a mixed nature - traumatic variants of the disease are more common, and reactive variants are less common. The occurrence of symptoms in the ankle joint almost always ends favorably, which is due to the good ability of the ligaments to recover. The most common injuries to the following tendons are:

• In first place in terms of occurrence is tenosynovitis in the area of ​​​​the inner edge of the foot, where the flexor tendons of the fingers pass to the sole. Their damage often occurs when a person stumbles awkwardly or jumps. After this, pain appears in the indicated area, which intensifies when walking or actively bending the fingers - there are usually no other symptoms.
• Less common is damage to the extensor tendons running in the synovial membranes at the border of the dorsum of the foot and ankle joint. They are located quite superficially, so in addition to pain in their projection when walking or standing on tiptoes, swelling or local compaction appears above them.
• Tenosynovitis of the Achilles tendon is very rare and is usually reactive or due to direct trauma. Since the ligament is accessible to inspection, inflammatory changes along its length immediately become noticeable. Pain occurs when walking, localized in the heel area.

If the pathological factor that led to the development of the disease is not eliminated, then the symptoms may become permanent, limiting the patient’s activity.

Nodular

A feature of inflammation that occurs on the tendons in the hand area is its frequent chronic course. Under the influence of stress, permanent damage to the synovial vagina occurs, leading to the development of irreversible degenerative changes in it. Therefore, it began to be called nodular tenosynovitis - an inflammatory process in combination with deformation of the ligaments and their membranes.

There are two separate groups of tendons on the hand - on the dorsal and palmar surfaces of the wrist joint. Their defeat is accompanied by the appearance of similar symptoms:

• The development of pathological manifestations from the tendons on the inner surface is more often observed. Tenosynovitis is manifested by aching pain in the wrist when clenching the fingers into a fist, swelling or painful compaction, and redness there. With a long course of the disease, the nodules become dense to the touch - they can often be seen even during an external examination.
• Damage to the synovial sheaths on the dorsum of the hand is also accompanied by pain when clenching a fist, and its intensification when extending the fingers. A painful to the touch and movable compaction appears above the wrist joint, increasing in size when it is extended.

Nodules that arise during the chronic course of the disease are not eliminated over time - they represent growths of connective tissue in the area of ​​membrane defects.

Treatment

Help with tenosynovitis is mainly non-specific - the patient can carry out most therapeutic measures at home. Almost all of them are based on creating an optimal motor mode for the affected ligament in order to ensure complete healing of its membranes. To do this you need to perform the following steps:

• During the first days after the onset of symptoms, it is necessary to create functional rest for the tendon. Absolutely any devices that allow you to artificially limit mobility in the joint are suitable for this.
• The easiest way is to make a bandage using an elastic bandage. Figure-of-eight options are suitable for the area of ​​the wrist or ankle joint - they will perfectly limit both flexion and extension in the joint. For the knee, it is better to make a turtle bandage - it has good supporting properties.
• Soft bandages or orthoses with adjustable stiffness are a good alternative to an elastic bandage. But if they are not there, then it is not necessary to purchase them just to fix the joint for a few days.
• After about three days, you can begin a physical therapy program - it will need to be performed daily for 30 minutes. Classes begin with the development of passive movements, and only after a few days can active exercises be gradually introduced.

In addition to these methods, painkillers and physical therapy are now being added to speed up the recovery of ligament function.

Medication

Artificial elimination of the inflammatory process allows the body to quickly start healing processes in the affected synovial vagina. Modern medicine can offer a wide range of drugs and techniques that suppress the pathological mechanisms of the disease:

1. The standard of treatment is the prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - in various forms of administration. For tenosynovitis, local remedies are mainly used - ointments or gels (Voltaren, Nise, Ketorol, Deep Relief). Only with severe inflammation is it possible to take situational pills to suppress the symptoms.
2. If NSAIDs are not enough to control the manifestations, then the issue of local administration of hormones is decided - injections of Diprospan. The injection is placed in the area of ​​the affected synovial vagina, reducing pain and swelling.
3. Additionally, local irritants are prescribed - dimexide applications, Capsicam or Finalgon creams. They have a distracting effect and also improve blood circulation in the area of ​​the pathological focus.
4. There are practically no restrictions on physiotherapy procedures - you can use any available method. Electrophoresis or phonophoresis with novocaine, paraffin or ozokerite applications are suitable for pain relief. To improve recovery - laser or magnetic therapy, inductothermy, electrophoresis with enzymes.

The optimal combination of organizational and medicinal methods shortens the duration of the disease, allowing a person to quickly return to normal activities.

Surgical

When the inflammation becomes purulent, or the pain syndrome cannot be eliminated by conservative methods, indications for surgery appear. It allows you to radically eliminate the existing pathological focus:

1. First, the altered synovial sheath is isolated from the soft tissues surrounding the joint.
2. Then it is opened and all deformed or inflamed areas of the membrane are excised.
3. The pathological focus is washed repeatedly to remove exudate, as well as areas of the affected membranes.
4. Tendon plastic surgery is performed - nodules and growths of connective tissue are removed. Then it is again placed in its usual place, only without the shells surrounding it.

The loss of the synovial sheath still affects the functioning of the ligament in the future, although only slightly - with a good rehabilitation program, the changes can be corrected. And removing the source of chronic inflammation allows you to get rid of unpleasant symptoms that disrupt your usual activity.

If you have symptoms of reactive arthritis, it is necessary to quickly diagnose this disease and immediately prescribe treatment. Experts assess reactive arthritis as not the most severe, but a common disease of joint tissues.

There are many types of the disease and each has its own characteristics of manifestation and treatment, so it is important to promptly identify the cause of the pathology and treat reactive arthritis based on its origin.

Mechanism of defeat

In essence, the disease is an inflammatory process caused by the activity of the body's own immune mechanisms. Joint tissues are affected by antibodies, which begin to attack connective tissue cells.

Such antibodies are not found in healthy organisms; they arise against the background of diseases caused by infectious pathogens. In some pathologies, the risks of developing arthritis are quite high.

The connection between infectious pathogens and cells is due to the fact that the structure of microorganisms and the cells of the human body contain protein components that are similar in structure (this phenomenon has a separate name - molecular mimicry). Thanks to these proteins, the immune system identifies the microbe and attacks it. Therefore, joint cells may be subject to erroneous attacks due to the similarity of protein structures. Reactive protein is one of the important indicators of the presence of the disease.

In addition, experts are confident that genetic predisposition plays an important role in this process. There is a number of data confirming that in the presence of a specific gene, the risks of developing arthritis after infectious diseases are much higher.

If rheumatoid arthritis most often affects small joints, then reactive pathology affects large joints. The disease progresses when the cartilage tissue is affected by the following systemic diseases:

• syringomyelia - pathology of the spinal cord;
• leukemia;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• dystrophic pathologies - they are more often diagnosed in older people due to age-related changes;
• illnesses accompanied by impaired calcium metabolism in the body, this may cause the deposition of salts on cartilaginous tissues (the most common form of the disease); in this case, pyrophosphate arthropathy develops, which can occur due to injuries to the hip, elbow, knee joints, infections, and hypocalcemia.
• idiopathic form - in this case, specialists cannot find out what exactly caused the pathological changes.

In addition, there is a type of psoriatic arthropathy - a form of hereditary pathology that is transmitted genetically. Such reactive arthropathy in children manifests itself at a very early age.

What causes the pathology?

There are several classifications of the disease, one of which is based on the causes of reactive arthritis:

1. Viruses. Today, over 30 pathogens of this type have been identified that can provoke the development of joint disease. Viral arthritis can occur against the background of rubella, hepatitis type B, herpes infection, enterovirus, etc.
2. Streptococci. They are the cause of post-streptococcal arthritis. In most cases, the disease is accompanied by infectious diseases of the nasopharynx caused by streptococcus, which is present in the healthy microflora of the body. The pathogen causes the following diseases - acute tonsillitis, pharyngitis, scarlet fever, inflammation of the bronchi, lungs and other pathological conditions.
3. Staphylococci. Another pathogen that can cause arthritis. Against the background of staphylococcal infections, a septic type of disease develops.
4. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Koch bacillus). In this case, we are talking about tuberculous arthritis, which occurs due to the extrapulmonary form of tuberculosis.
5. Gonococci. The occurrence of gonococcal arthritis is associated with the asymptomatic course of gonorrhea or gonococcal infections developing in the pharynx or intestines.
6. Spirochetes.

Chronic migratory erythema or Lyme disease is a disease that affects many body systems, including the musculoskeletal system. This pathology often becomes chronic and is prone to recurrence.

In addition, there is a general division of the disease into:

• urogenic reactive arthritis - associated with diseases of the genitourinary system;
• postenterocolitic reactive arthritis - develops against the background of gastrointestinal tract infections, more often diagnosed in men.

Children can also develop reactive arthritis, the reasons are related to the fact that with frequent illnesses, the immune system is weakened, and it is not difficult for pathogens to penetrate tissues and systems. Most often, the causative agents in this case are chlamydia or bacteria that cause enterocolitis. In this case, reactive arthritis of the hip joint may develop, which affects children under 14 years of age and young people under 30 years of age.

Classification of the disease according to ICD-10

If we consider the classification of the disease according to ICD - 10, then the main types of reactive arthritis are the following:

• arthropathy - secondary damage to articular tissues that develop against the background of other diseases and pathologies:
• arthropathy accompanying intestinal bypass surgery;
• post-dysenteric lesion - a pathology in which changes affect both connective and musculoskeletal tissues;
• post-immunization lesion - the disease affects muscles and bones; associated with recent immunization;
• Reiter's disease - additional damage to the genitourinary organs and conjunctiva occurs;
• other types of reactive arthritis;
• reactive arthropathy, unspecified - in the case of joint damage such as reactive arthritis, there are still a number of gaps that are gradually being clarified.

Reactive arthritis can occur in several forms:

• acute - the disease lasts less than 2 months;
• protracted - duration ranges from several months to a year;
• chronic reactive arthritis - lasts longer than 12 months;
• recurrent form - the disease worsens and the interval between exacerbations is less than six months.

How does the disease manifest?

The initial stage of the disease usually occurs in an acute form. Most often, primary symptoms appear 12 to 14 days after infection. If reactive arthritis develops, initial symptoms may include the following:

1. Increased temperature in the area of ​​the affected joint. This symptom can be determined by placing your palm on the painful area.
2. Swelling of the joints - this is how reactive arthritis manifests itself in the knee, ankle, elbows, as well as hands and feet. In some cases, swelling extends beyond the lesion.
3. The appearance of pain syndrome. Pain occurs when moving the affected limbs - upper or lower. The pain can be different: dull, twisting or aching; they are more intense during the day and subside somewhat at night. This symptom can be detected during palpation of the affected areas.

Reactive arthritis is accompanied by stiffness that makes it difficult for the patient to move, as with rheumatoid arthritis. This pathological condition is associated with impaired outflow of articular exudate - synovium.

Patients will learn what articular syndrome is - pain, asymmetric oligoarthritis, damage to joint tissue, swelling and others.

In addition, characteristic symptoms appear depending on the infectious disease. Urogenital infections are accompanied by urethritis and cervicitis. The joint space widens and periarticular swelling of the soft tissue occurs.

Also, reactive arthritis is characterized by inflammation of the eyes, skin, conjunctiva, mucous surfaces of the oral cavity, etc. Already in the initial stages of the disease, the patient exhibits symptoms of sacroiliitis (damage to the vertebrae), kidney disease, heart muscle, and disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system.

A person suffering from reactive arthritis becomes lethargic, feels constant fatigue, and performance decreases. The disease is often accompanied by sudden weight loss. A febrile state may occur - chills or increased body temperature.

4-5 weeks after contracting the infection, damage to large joints that bear the maximum load appears - reactive arthritis of the ankle, hip, knee, the foot and big toes also suffer.

Diagnosis of pathology

Joint diseases require a serious approach and a thorough examination. Diagnostics include the following:

In addition, it is important to examine the affected joints and identify existing symptoms. A number of tests are prescribed to identify the type of pathogen: scraping from the urethra, detection of antibodies in the blood, PCR analysis - polymerase chain reaction.

To make a diagnosis, the attending physician must obtain at least 4 confirmations of the criteria for reactive arthritis.

What therapy is used

As already noted, such joint pathology is prone to relapses and transition to a chronic form. However, if you pay attention to the symptoms of reactive arthritis in a timely manner, treatment and prognosis are quite favorable. Experts warn that you should not self-medicate and brush aside unpleasant signs of the disease.

The doctor knows how to treat reactive arthritis; usually therapy has two directions - getting rid of the pathogen and eliminating the symptoms of articular syndrome.

Among antibacterial drugs, agents with a wide spectrum of action can be prescribed:

• Azithromycin, Azithromycin monohydrate;
• Doskycycline (analogue of Unidox Solutab);
• Clarithromycin (analogues: Clarithrosin, Clarbact);
• Amoxiclav (analogues: Baktoklav, Liklav, Flemoklav S);
• Erythromycin (analogues: Ermitsed, Erifluid).

Since antibiotics have a number of serious side effects, it is recommended to take them only under the supervision of a doctor and according to an individually prescribed regimen. It is worth noting that antibiotic therapy eliminates the infection, but in no way eliminates the symptoms of arthritis.

Articular syndrome is treated with medication, but using drugs from other groups:

1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - drugs based on Diclofenac (Diclovit, Diclofen, Voltaren, etc.), Ibuprofen (Ibuklin, Nurofen).
2. Steroid hormonal drugs, corticosteroid drugs. glucocorticoids - Cortisol, Prednisone, Dexamethasone and others.

Usually prescribed as a complex application - ointments and gels for external application to the area of ​​affected joints and capsules or tablets for oral administration. Such drugs slow down the development of pathological processes, affecting biochemical reactions.

Hormonal medications also have risks of side effects and many contraindications, so they are prescribed exclusively by a doctor. Although their effect on the immune system is a decrease in the functions of this system, experts assess it as a positive quality in this case.

In addition, to stop immune attacks on joint cells, a rheumatologist can prescribe drugs - immunosuppressants, for example, Methotrexate, which prevent cells from growing and inhibit the body's immune functions. Naturally, weakened immunity is a rather serious condition, and the body in this case is defenseless against pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

If reactive arthritis is not treated, a number of serious complications are possible:

• if uveitis occurs, cataracts develop without treatment;
• destruction of articular tissues can lead to the formation of erosions, which most often appear on the feet and lead to deformation changes;
• It only takes 12 months for arthritis to develop into a chronic disease.

Like any form of illness, reactive disease requires long-term therapy, although unlike other types of arthritis, in this case there is the possibility of complete relief from pathological changes. Human joints are an important component; without their normal functioning, a person finds himself limited in movement, suffers from severe pain and risks even more serious health problems. Is this not enough to take better care of your joints and treat them in a timely manner?

Arthrosis of the elbow joint 1 and 2 degrees: symptoms and treatment of the elbow

High loads on the limbs during sports or when performing any work negatively affect the condition of articular cartilage. Unfortunately, today doctors diagnose grade 2 arthrosis of the elbow joint not only in elderly patients.

Among the patients, there are often people under forty years of age who have an unstable condition and rapid progression of the clinical picture.

After reading this material, the reader will receive answers to questions regarding the causes of arthrosis, the main symptoms of the disease and modern methods of treatment.

Why does deforming arthrosis of the elbow occur?

Until quite recently, it was believed that deforming arthrosis is an age-related pathology and is caused solely by a deterioration in the blood supply to the tendon and cartilage tissues of the joint, which develops as a result of the aging of the body.

But recent scientific research has shown that deforming arthrosis of the elbow can also develop in the younger generation. This happens because today many people lead a sedentary lifestyle, and in combination with endocrine disorders, physical inactivity causes a malfunction in the innervation mechanism.

In other words, anyone who systematically violates their diet, has a sedentary job, or ignores physical education can develop arthrosis of the elbow joint. Pathology of the elbow joint is directly related to tunnel syndrome and cervical osteochondrosis.

All three conditions are accompanied by deterioration of the innervation of muscle tissue and tendons, and a decrease in the production of fluid that nourishes cartilage tissue. As a result, the cartilage becomes dehydrated and loses its elasticity and firmness. Such conditions are very favorable for pathogenic effects on the heads of the joints.

But for the development of deforming arthrosis of the elbow joint, there are other provoking factors:

• the presence of ulnar epicondylitis in a person, which is called “tennis elbow);
• excess weight, combined with edematous syndromes of various origins (hormonal, nephrotic, cardiac, endocrine);
• regular injuries to the musculoskeletal system, these can range from minor blows to serious dislocations, sprains and fractures;
• rheumatism and connective tissue diseases;
• violation of drinking balance (normally a person should drink at least two liters of clean water per day);
• metabolic disease;
• the presence of chronic foci of infections in the patient’s body, this includes unattended dental caries, chronic gastritis, cholecystitis and tonsillitis;
• lack of calcium and other minerals in the diet;
• pathologies of the thyroid and pancreas;
• decreased immunity.

To quickly restore the natural state of articular tissues, it is necessary to immediately eliminate the possible causes of the pathology.

That is why during initial diagnosis it is extremely important to identify probable pathogenic factors.

Symptoms of elbow arthrosis in the initial stages

In order to be able to begin treatment for arthrosis of the elbow joint as early as possible, it is necessary to diagnose it in a timely manner. That is why, when the first symptoms of the disease appear, you should consult a doctor immediately. To do this, a person must know the characteristic signs of elbow arthrosis.

Deforming arthrosis of the elbow joint of the first degree is expressed only by short-term pain in the corresponding area after physical activity. External symptoms of pathology may be completely absent.

During the initial examination, the doctor notes a slight decrease in muscle tone and difficulties that arise when trying to move the forearm. The pain increases with flexion, extension or abduction of the limb, that is, at those moments when the elbow joint is involved.

In order to exclude rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, epicondylitis, elbow tunnel syndrome, osteochondrosis and sprains, differential diagnosis is carried out at this stage.

Any of these diseases can provoke radiating pain in the elbow. The doctor prescribes x-rays, and, if necessary, computed tomography and arthroscopy. Treatment of the disease is carried out by an orthopedist, chiropractor or surgeon.

Deforming arthrosis of the second degree has a more pronounced clinical picture:

1. The pain is almost constant and intensifies in the evening.
2. When moving, crepitus (crunching) is noted, which indicates the beginning of a destructive process in bone tissue.
3. Nodular formations of a dense consistency may be observed around the elbow joint.

In these two stages, conservative treatment can be very successful and even complete recovery is possible. But therapy needs to be started as quickly as possible.

Treatment of arthrosis of the elbow joint

The modern pharmaceutical market does not have an arsenal of effective drugs for the treatment of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, treatment is based on wait-and-see tactics, during which it is necessary to eliminate the symptoms of arthrosis.

Therapeutic measures include:

• Prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Baralgin, Indamethacin, Ortofen, Diclofenac), which relieve the inflammatory process and eliminate pain. The patient receives significant relief, but complete recovery does not occur.
• Vitamin therapy, in which preference is given to nicotinic acid, cyanocobalamin, thiamine bromide, pyridoxine hydrochloride. These drugs improve metabolic processes in affected tissues, improve blood circulation and often lead to a significant improvement in the general condition of the patient. But the effect of these drugs is short-lived.
• Corticosteroids are hormonal drugs that suppress autoimmune processes in the body. They are prescribed for intense pain. But corticosteroids have a serious negative effect - they can destroy bone tissue.
• Chondoprotectors are fairly new drugs. These drugs have not yet been fully studied, so they have numerous opponents. With intra-articular injections, chondoprotectors provide good results, but there is an opinion that oral administration and intramuscular administration do not give the expected effect.
• The pain that invariably accompanies deforming arthrosis of the elbow can be relieved with novocaine and ice-caine blockade. But such methods are emergency and not therapeutic.
• Treatment of arthrosis requires physiotherapeutic measures, massage sessions and daily performance of a set of health-improving exercises.

Treatment of arthrosis of the elbow joint of the first degree using manual therapy methods is highly effective. But success is guaranteed only if measures are taken in a timely manner.

The chiropractor conducts the initial examination of the patient with special care. After studying the medical history, the doctor clarifies the diagnosis and determines the degree of destruction of articular tissues. Only after fully familiarizing yourself with the situation, the doctor develops an individual treatment method.

Treatment using manual therapy ensures normalization of the location of the bone heads in the articular cavity. Thanks to acupuncture effects on biologically active points of the human body, the osteopath eliminates pain without any side effects.

After relieving pain and overcoming the acute period, a long recovery course begins, which mainly uses therapeutic exercises and massage. The purpose of these measures is the natural restoration of joint tissues.

During activity during physical exercise, blood flow in the muscles increases, as a result of which the cartilage tissue receives complete diffuse nutrition. Massage ensures consolidation of the resulting effect and eliminates excess tension in the muscles.

These methods are complemented by practical recommendations from doctors, which are aimed at organizing the correct working and sleeping space and adjusting the diet. Comprehensive treatment of arthrosis ensures an improvement in the patient’s general condition, an increase in his performance and a return to the usual rhythm of life.