THE INFLUENCE OF THE COMBINED PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT ON THE FUNCTIONAL RESERVES OF REGULATORY MECHANISMS IN THE ELDERLY PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH METABOLIC AND DYSTROPHIC OSTEOARTHRITIS

This analysis of vegetative tension of the functional systems of the body is based on the results of examination of 40 patients at the age of 64-75 years presenting with metabolic and dystrophic osteoarthritis of the knee joints with the duration of the disease averaging 16.0 ± 1.5 years. Two therapeutic regimens were applied to treat the patients. The tension index (TI) was used as an additional criterion for the choice of the extent of therapeutic intervention. It was shown that the maximum-volume physiotherapeutic treatment can be prescribed at a total spectral power (TP) in excess of 1000 ms 2, TI up to 400 arbitrary units, and the calculated standing/supine TI ratio over1.5 arbitrary units. The minimum-volume treatment is indicated when TP is lower than 1000 ms 2, TI is over 400 arbitrary units, and the calculated standing/supine TI ratio below 1.5 arbitrary units. It is concluded that the combination of the decreased tension index and increased total spectral power is the criterion for the adequate response of the patients to the course of physiotherapeutic procedures.

physiotherapeutic treatment, regulation mechanisms, metabolic dystrophy syndrome