STUDY OF STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL CHANGES IN JANU SANDHI (KNEE JOINT) WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SYMPTOMS OF –SANDHIGATA VATA i.e. OSTEOARTHRITIS – A CASE SERIES

Abstract

              Joint diseases are very common in the society. In various joint diseases the structural and functional changes are observed in relation to joints which affects the further prognosis of disease. In this study, patients of sandhigata vata are examined to observe such changes at various stages. Sandhigata vata mentioned by Charakacharya in chikitsasthan 28th chapter and Madhavnidan can be compared with osteoarthritis as per available literature^[3]. Understanding the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis is very important for deciding treatment plan, monitoring treatment efficacy and predicting disease outcome. The structural elaboration of  joints is very limited.^[1] Ayurveda’s approach varies from that of modern science in diagnosis of disease. In Ayurveda , Symptomatology based on vitiation of dosha helps in accurate diagnosis of disease condition. But in modern science main emphasis is given on diagnostic tools such as MRI, Radiograph, Ultra sonography, Histopathological studies mainly to detect the structural changes in Osteoarthritis which is characterized by degenerative changes in the bones, cartilage, menisci, ligaments, and synovial tissue. Hence in this study 10 pre diagnosed patients of sandhigata vata (osteoarthritis) having symptoms such as sandhishula (pain), sandhi shoth (inflammation), Aatop (crepitus), and Sandhigraha (stiffness)^[2,4] were selected and an attempt was made to understand the structural changes observed in knee joint osteoarthritis along with the functional changes based on range of motion^[10,11] and correlation was established with the symptoms.