PHYSIOTHERAPY IN HAEMOPHILIC ARTHROPATHY OF THE KNEE

Abstract

 Hemophilia is an inherited disorder, caused by a mutation in the gene responsible for encoding the coagulation factor, located in chromosome X. Such disruption leads to an inadequate capacity of the body to maintain the nor-mal physiology of hemostasis. As a result, bleeding occurs in different anatomical regions, prevailing the intraarticular ones. This is the most important clinical manifestation of the disease. Its repetitive appearance in the joints,produces a joint degeneration called hemophilic arthropathy. Its main impact is on the femoral–tibial and tibiofibu-lartalus joints. It has been proven that physiotherapy plays a fundamental role in treating the hemophilic patients within the interdisciplinary sanitary team for the prevention as well as the treatment of the organic consequences derived from the previously mentioned arthropathy. There are many scales to evaluate the degree of the degeneration of hemophilic arthropathy, which are used normally by a medical rehabilitator to control the damage of the joints and the further progress of the patient. However, it is crucial that the physiotherapist examines certain muscular–skeletal aspects, including pain in order to establish an effective and individualized physiotherapy treatment.