Atherosclerosis, hypertension, and sciatica are not the only ailments that leech therapy can help with. Leeches also find application in physiotherapy. They are used for torn ligaments and twisted knee and ankle joints. These small and unassuming creatures remove swelling and hematomas, neutralizing pain and allowing the injured to recover faster than traditional treatment methods.
Health through sport
Physical activity brings many health benefits, provided that it is a constant presence in our lives. Some swim, others jog, and some cannot imagine a day without a bike ride. Injuries occur in every discipline. Of course, the risk of injury is minimal in some, but it still needs to be considered.
Broken or dislocated fingers are a common occurrence among basketball and volleyball players, while footballers have to deal with lower limb injuries, and boxers often end up with head injuries.
Most common injuries
Injuries happen throughout the year, even among people with little to do with sports. One of the most prevalent injuries is ligament damage, which can be torn or wholly ruptured during a twist in the joint that goes beyond the normal range of motion. This is accompanied by swelling and often severe pain that hinders normal functioning.
A moment of inattention can lead to improper foot placement and ankle twisting. If this event only strains the capsule and ligaments, the discomfort is not as great as with partial or complete rupture of the ligaments and joint capsule, which leads to swelling and hematoma.
What else happens to us? Those who usually avoid sports and overestimate their abilities often suffer from tendon strains and persistent pain. During an unfortunate fall on the stairs or slippery surfaces, we can dislocate a shoulder joint or get bruises. Regardless of the injury, every injured person wants to recover quickly, and athletes also want to return to the field. Leeches help in this.
Leeches as a remedy for injuries
In sports rehabilitation, the real challenge is often to remove the swelling in sprains and other injuries. Unlike leeches, which provide effects almost immediately, classical therapeutic methods only sometimes bring the desired result quickly.
Leeches remove swelling and hematomas and cleanse the joint capsules. The compounds in their saliva have anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, analgesic, and vasodilatory effects. A hematoma goes away in 2 days instead of 2 weeks, thanks to leech therapy. All this means that leech therapy has found application in treating torn ligaments, twisted ankle and knee joints, tendonitis, and bruises.
Where else are leeches used?
Leeches are also used in other branches of medicine. They are increasingly used after replantation.
Why do doctors turn to leeches after replantation surgery? Sometimes, despite the use of drugs, a patient may experience swelling and venous thrombosis of the reattached limb or fingers, which can lead to necrosis. Drugs administered orally or intravenously cannot reach such tissue, while drugs in injection may even worsen the condition. It is necessary to act quickly, and then leeches come to the rescue. Leeches force tissue flow by creating a vacuum during suction. Moreover, they inject compounds that thin the blood, which helps remove swelling and clots.
Leeches are indispensable in cases of algodystrophy, i.e., neurovascular damage after an injury, and in arthritis accompanying osteoarthritis. They are also used in reconstructive surgery. If there is a risk of ischemic and necrotic processes in the skin flaps, doctors apply leeches, which are an alternative to drugs that cannot reach the threatened areas with blood.
What does the procedure look like?
After diagnosing the patient, the physiotherapist applies leeches to the painful area. Depending on the condition, 2 to even nine leeches are used during the procedure. Each leech cuts the skin and sinks its chitinous jaws, suctioning itself to the swelling. The patient does not feel this, as the saliva of the leeches contains anaesthetic substances. The therapy lasts about an hour. After this time, the sponges either fall off independently or are removed. A gauze dressing and bandage are applied to the places where wounds, from which blood may continue to seep for several hours, have formed.
Contraindications to leech therapy
Many athletes still approach treatment with leeches sceptically. Some cannot use them due to existing contraindications.
One of the contraindications to the application of leeches is an allergy to substances in their saliva; another is bleeding disorders. Therapy cannot be carried.
Out in people with immunodeficiency, blood clotting disorders, or severe internal organ damage, as well as in those suffering from anaemia. Pregnant women are also excluded.
Blood tests are essential before starting therapy with leeches. Based on the results of the tests and an interview with the patient, the leech therapist checks for any contraindications to the procedure. Leech therapy is not performed in people at risk of health loss.