Ozone is a colourless gas with an acrid odour made up of three oxygen atoms discovered in 1848. Its primary function is to protect living organisms from the harmful effects of UV radiation. At the earth’s surface, it occurs at a lower concentration. Since its discovery, ozone has been used as a therapeutic agent to treat different diseases. Ozone therapy refers to the process of administering ozone gas. Medical ozone has been used to treat various conditions for over 100 years, and arthritis is one of them. Arthritis is a term used to describe around 200 conditions that affect joints’ tissues surrounding the joint and other connective tissues. Arthritis causes inflammation, stiffness, heat, and pain in the affected joints (wrists, hands, shoulders, elbows, neck, hips, knees, feet).
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the common type of arthritis affecting more than half of people over the age of 65, but it can also affect people of all ages, including children. It is more prevalent in women 18% than in men 9.6% after menopause. OA can be classified into two forms, namely: primary and secondary OA. Primary OA is gene-related, while secondary or post-traumatic OA occurs mainly after a traumatic event, according to Musumeci et al.,2015. Other common rheumatic conditions related to arthritis include gout, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
At present, ozone therapy is one of the most effective treatments aimed at relieving these symptoms. It helps in reducing pain, inflammation and also strengthens the immune system.
How it Works: Ozone Therapy
Ozone therapy activates the enzymes responsible for protecting the body against processes linked to the overproduction of superoxides. During ozone therapy, there is induction of enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxides, or catalase and oxygen utilization in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, becoming more effective. There is also a transmembranous flow of oxygen. In the last decades, many orthopaedics in Europe have used ozone to treat chronic knee arthritis, and the results show rapid pain relief. Superoxide plays a crucial role in biological regulations.
Ozone therapy has been widely used to treat osteoarthritis (OA). The intra-articular injection of ozone has been a suggested treatment for OA and has yielded positive results. Daif, 2012 showed that direct injection of ozone into patients’ superior joint space with the temporomandibular joint’s internal derangement yielded an excellent clinical outcome.
Ozone acts as a bio-regulator by releasing factors from endothelial cells and normalizing the cellular redox balance when in contact with a biological fluid. When ozone is administered, it dissolves in biological fluids such as plasma, urine, and lymph, where it reacts with polyunsaturated fatty acids, reduced glutathione, antioxidants, and albumin. These compounds act as electron donors, and ozone causes oxidation of these compounds resulting in the formation of hydrogen peroxide and lipid oxidation products LOPs. At physiological amounts, hydrogen peroxide acts as a regulator of signal transduction and an essential mediator of immune responses. Hydrogen peroxide acts and disappears while LOPs remain in the circulation, thus becoming long-lasting messengers. This process leads to the stimulation of the innate immune system, which helps cells to survive the injury. Ozone therapy stimulates the production of antioxidant enzymes also by activating neutrophils and stimulating the release of cytokines. These cytokines are known to increase mitochondrial ROS production, thereby causing the improvement and prevention of joint erosion. Ozone stimulates adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production through the glycolysis enzymatic pathway and increases oxygenation to injured cells hence preventing cell death.
Benefits of Ozone Therapy
Ozone therapy is a technique of applying concentrated oxygen and ozone. The compound dissolves in the body and comes into contact with molecules generating acute oxidative stress. The benefits are as follows:
- It improves the body’s antioxidant systems.
- It helps the immune system combat infections and autoimmune diseases.
- It helps in improving tissue oxygenation by increasing transport capacity.
- Disinfectant effects and bactericidal
- Recovery becomes faster
- Reduced medication
All this explains why ozone therapy is increasingly being used in the treatment of conditions like arthritis. It is quick and effective, and a painless technique. Are you suffering from joint pains, or are you aware of someone with that condition? Contact Arthritis VIP. We are the only clinic in Ontario offering specialized treatments for arthritis. Schedule an appointment with us, and we shall serve you appropriately.
