{"id":6616,"date":"2021-08-09T19:18:43","date_gmt":"2021-08-09T18:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportortho-wien.at\/cartilage-damage-complaints-with-the-natural-shock-absorbers\/"},"modified":"2025-04-03T14:19:25","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T13:19:25","slug":"cartilage-damage-complaints-with-the-natural-shock-absorbers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportortho-wien.at\/en\/cartilage-damage-complaints-with-the-natural-shock-absorbers\/","title":{"rendered":"Cartilage damage – complaints with the natural shock absorbers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Cartilage serves as a natural shock absorber<\/strong> in the joints. As an elastic protective layer of the joints, they can be several millimetres thick. They cushion loads<\/strong> and prevent bones from colliding directly with each other. In the case of cartilage damage, the cartilage is damaged. This becomes noticeable with pain during movement<\/strong>. Such cartilage damage can have various causes. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is cartilage?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Cartilage layers are located on the joint-forming bones<\/strong> and can be several millimetres thick. They prevent the bones from colliding directly with each other during movement. Cartilage is elastic, shock-absorbing and low-friction tissue<\/strong> that consists of 80 percent water. There are no blood vessels or nerves in cartilage tissue. The cartilage therefore has no blood supply of its own<\/strong> and is supplied with nutrients via the synovial fluid and the bones beneath it. The cartilage’s ability to regenerate<\/strong> is therefore limited. With increasing age and constant strain, the cartilage becomes brittle<\/strong>, which eventually leads to cartilage damage. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Types of cartilage<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A distinction is made between hyaline, elastic and fibrous cart<\/strong> ilage. Hyaline and elastic cartilage are surrounded by a cartilage membrane (perichondrium). This cartilage membrane is absent in fibrocartilage<\/strong>. It consists of an inner cellular layer, in which precursor cells are located, and an outer connective tissue layer. Blood and lymph vessels<\/strong> that nourish the cartilage end<\/strong> in the outer layer<\/strong>. <\/p>

Hyaline cartilage<\/strong> is also known as vitreous cartilage and is characterized by high compressive elasticity<\/strong>. It is present where pressure loads<\/strong> mainly occur. It is found on most joint surfaces, but as articular cartilage it has no cartilage membrane. In adults, hyaline cartilage<\/strong> is the most common type of cartilage. Hyaline cartilage<\/strong> is also present on the ribs and in the laryngeal framework. Hyaline cartilage can calcify. <\/p>

Elastic cartilage is cell-rich cartilage tissue that is highly elastic in compression and bending<\/strong>. Its structure is similar to hyaline cartilage, but it is even richer in fibers<\/strong>. Elastic cartilage is found in the epiglottis and in the auricles. <\/p>

Fibrocartilage is also known as connective tissue cartilage<\/strong> and contains only a few cells. It is rich in collagen fibers and is found in the human body wherever shear forces occur. It has a high tensile strength<\/strong>. Fibrocartilage is found in the menisci of the knee joint, in the joint labrum and in the intervertebral discs. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Effect of the cartilage<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Articular cartilage is important<\/strong> for joint movement and enables the joint surfaces to glide<\/strong> smoothly. When viewed under a microscope, the smooth surface of the articular cartilage shows small dents like a golf ball. The synovial fluid serves<\/strong> as a lubricating layer and adheres to the surface of the cartilage<\/strong>. Under load, water is pressed out of the cartilage to reduce the sliding resistance. Cartilage fluid nourishes the cartilage cells<\/strong>. Like a sponge, it is pressed out of the cartilage under load and flows back into the cartilage when the load is removed. <\/p>

The cartilage<\/strong> can be deformed under pressure<\/strong> like a water cushion. Impacts<\/strong> on the joint<\/strong> are absorbed, cushioned and distributed over a larger surface area. The shock-absorbing effect of the cartilage<\/strong> is reinforced by the synovial fluid. The cartilage<\/strong> returns to its original shape when the load is removed<\/strong>. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Symptoms of cartilage damage<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Cartilage damage can<\/strong> remain symptom-free for a long time<\/strong> or only become noticeable with minor symptoms. They are therefore often only discovered by chance<\/strong>. It is not always possible for patients to recognize cartilage damage themselves. Cartilage damage often only becomes noticeable when it is already more advanced. The microscopic cartilage abrasion<\/strong> caused by chronic processes leads<\/strong> to inflammation of the mucous membrane that lies on the inside of the joint capsule. With increased irritation<\/strong>, the mucous membrane produces joint fluid and thus a joint effusion<\/strong>. As the joint cartilage has no nerve endings, the inflamed joint capsule is usually responsible for the pain that occurs. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Typical symptoms, especially in the knee, are:<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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