Take Your Health To The Next Level
Knee pain is extremely common and will likely affect you at some point in your life. The pain can make navigating day-to-day life very difficult without the proper treatment. Fortunately, most knee pain is not severe enough to warrant major or invasive medical treatment. Since weight plays a more significant role in knee health than the average person realizes, it is possible to alleviate your pain with a little weight loss.
Obesity is a common enough issue in the country that the majority of citizens fall into the category. This makes it more important than ever to take steps to keep your physical health in check. Physical health providers can assist with managing your weight levels through nutrition and physical exercise.
We at Next Level Health provide high-quality physical therapy and metabolic enhancement treatments. Our staff consists of trained physical therapists and doctors who can provide the services you need to recover. Knee pain management and metabolic enhancement are only a few of the services we can provide so you can enjoy a healthy life.
We know it can be daunting to face the prospect of seeking treatment from a new provider, but our only goal is to help you be the healthiest possible version of yourself. If your knees are in pain, do not wait for the situation to resolve itself. It can be easier than you know to lose weight and take the pressure off your legs. So, be sure to contact us today so you can take your health to the Next Level!
Why Does Being Overweight Damage Joints
There are two main theories around this, the mechanical and the biological theories. They may both play a role. The mechanical theory is that the joints are strained more than they can cope with, they and are damage during mobility. The damage builds over time and leads to arthritis. There are competing biological theories, that the effect on blood sugar is detrimental to the cartilage and that the adipose itself has a hormonal function, producing leptin, that results in softening of the cartilage.
Why Does Weight Matter
When you walk, your joints get a pounding. For every step, your knee takes on a force equal to 3-6 times your weight. What does that add up to? We’ll do the math for you. Even as little as 10 extra pounds puts an additional burden on your knee of 30-60 pounds.
If you only took one step a day, it might not be a big deal. But of course, you probably take thousands, which means a lot of stress on your knees. The more you weigh, the greater the stress. The long-term result — stiff, swollen, and achy joints.
When you carry extra pounds you also speed up the loss of cartilage in your knees. That’s the stuff that creates a cushion between your bones. If you don’t have enough, your bones start to rub against each other. And that leads to irritation, pain, and swelling.
When you drop a few pounds, you won’t reverse your OA or create new cartilage. But it can ease your symptoms, improve how well you get around, and prevent more damage to your joints.
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Does Replacement Surgery Benefit People Who Are Overweight
The short answer is yes. The benefit might be less than in the non-obese population and the risks are greater.
Several studies have now demonstrated good patient-reported outcome measures in people who are overweight. Published peer-reviewed literature compared functional outcomes between obese and non-obese knee replacement patients and have reported different findings. .
Some studies report no difference in functional outcome between obese and non-obese patients after knee replacement. Other studies report that the functional outcome for non-obese arthroplasty patients is better than for obese patients.
All studies reported that on average patients experienced functional improvements compared to their preoperative levels. . Those with a BMI of more than 40 tend to have less functional improvement than patients with lower BMIs. Improvement may also take longer.
Obesity is associated with other medical conditions such as cardiac disease, diabetes, breathing difficulties and cancer. These alone increase the risk of complications. Overweight patients undergoing knee replacement have an increased risk of medical peri-operative complications. These include infection, wound healing problems, respiratory complications and venous thromboembolism. The joint replacement itself might be expected to wear out faster and there may also be a faster loosening of the implant from the bone. .
How Weight Loss Can Help Knee Pain
The good news is that weight loss can help knee pain. Being overweight adds additional strain and pressure on knees, which can lead to greater risk of knee pain, swelling, arthritis and injury. A recent study showed that losing one pound resulted in four pounds of pressure being taken off the knees. So losing 10 pounds would remove 40 pounds of pressure from your knees.
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Medical Conditions Affecting The Knee
Common medical conditions that can cause knee pain include:
- Tendonitis: Tendons are thick cords that attach bones to muscles. Repetitive motion can irritate the tendons in the knee and cause pain, swelling and discomfort.
- Knee instability: Injury to the ligaments can cause the knee to twist and move side to side during basic activities.
- Arthritis: This common joint condition can cause pain, swelling and stiffness in the knee because of worn cartilage.
How Much Weight Loss Is Sufficient In Knee Pain
Even slight weight adjustments can make an impact on knee pain. If you lose just one pound, your knees will be relieved of four pounds of pressure. If you lose 10 pounds, youll relieve 40 pounds of stress.
Its best if you drop a lot of weight. If youre overweight, doctors recommend aiming for a weight loss of 10% of your current weight. That is supported by research.
In one study, persons who lost at least 10% of their body weight experienced less pain and inflammation than those who lost less.
Make it a point to set a 10% weight loss goal for yourself. For example, if you currently weigh 200 pounds, your goal should be to drop 20 pounds. Aim for a weekly weight loss of 1-2 pounds.
You can use nutrition, exercise, or a combination of the two to lose weight. If youre severely overweight or have other health issues, talk to your doctor about additional options, such as low-calorie dietsor weight-loss drugs.
Ill provide you with 10 simple tips on weight loss that will provide you with guaranteed knee pain relief.
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Impact Of Being Overweight On Joints
There are many reasons why doctors and loved ones may constantly reinstate the importance of maintaining a healthy weight. While all this talk about weight loss may sound like a broken record, there are many health benefits linked to losing weight, and one of them is that it reduces pressure on the knees. Mentioned below are a few ways being overweight impacts the joints:
Increases Inflammation in the Body
As mentioned earlier, when you put on extra weight, the pressure goes to your knees and causes issues like inflammation and osteoarthritis. When the pressure consistently wears down the knee, inflammation occurs. Inflammation is more of a risk than a consequence as obesity may increase the levels of inflammation in some parts of the body. Whenever it does, it leads to joint pain. Hence, losing weight can definitely help reduce inflammation and that feeling of discomfort.
Puts Extra Pressure on the Knees
Every pound you reduce means less pressure on your knees. So gradually, when youre overweight, you exert a lot of pressure on your joints, which can lead to excessive knee pain. This also increases your chances of suffering from osteoarthritis. By losing 5 percent or more bodyweight, your knees can function better, as stated by the American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation.
Increases Chances of Metabolic Syndrome
May Increase Complications in Joint Replacement Surgery
Will Losing Weight Help Knee Pain
Helps Reduce All Pressure on Joints
Reduced Inflammation
Reduce Your Weight Reduce Your Pain
Since excess weight puts more wear-and-tear on your cartilage, it makes sense that losing those extra pounds can decrease friction, relieving painful symptoms and helping to prevent pain in the future. Of course, its not always easy to lose weight. Thats why our team offers comprehensive medical weight-loss plans to help patients lose weight more effectively and keep it off for the long term.
What if permanent joint damage has already occurred? If the damage is minimal, losing weight might still provide adequate relief of painful symptoms. But if the damage is more extensive, you could need additional treatment, even after losing those excess pounds. At Spruce Health Group, we offer non-surgical options for knee pain relief, and every treatment plan is customized for the individuals symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle.
Many people benefit from physical therapy and exercises to improve joint strength and flexibility. Sometimes the muscles around the knee are weak, which means you might be putting a lot of uneven stress on the joint during weight-bearing activities. Physical therapy can strengthen weak muscles and help you redistribute weight across the joints surface.
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Drink Weight Loss Coffee To Get Knee Pain Relief:
The most crucial criterion for losing weight is to expend more calories than you eat, resulting in a calorie deficit. Drinking coffee is one way to do so.
Caffeine usage during the day has been scientifically demonstrated to reduce energy intake and accelerate stomach emptying.
Coffee is a low-calorie, weight-loss-friendly beverage with a long list of well-documented health advantages.
According to a study, long-term weight management is also aided by consuming a cup of coffee on a regular basis.
Body Weight And Inflammation
One of the biggest sources of pain and discomfort, in general, is inflammation. While inflammation is a painful and irritating response to injury or illness, many people overlook that it is our body trying to heal us. Inflammation is our bodys answer to damage as it attempts to repair the body, leaving us fairly sore as we recover. Inflammation, as frustrating as it might be, is essential to our bodys natural healing process. Unfortunately, that same healing process can lead to complications if it never fades.
The wear and tear that can impact our knees and cause osteoarthritis causes the bones in the knee to grind against each other. This leads to pain and inflammation as our bodies try to repair the damage. Doctors originally thought that inflammation resulted from osteoarthritis manifesting in the damaged knee, but recent research implies that inflammation is a risk factor rather than a symptom. If your knee joint is damaged and your body triggers the inflammation process, it can cause the risk of osteoarthritis and other degenerative diseases to rise.
Keeping your inflammatory response in check is just as important for keeping your pain levels low. It is possible to control your inflammatory response through physical activity, but your weight also affects the severity of inflammation levels. Subsequent studies have determined that individuals who lost weight had reduced inflammation levels and were less prone to the associated pain.
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Exercises To Help Knee Pain
Strengthening key leg muscles including your glutes, hamstrings and quadriceps can help prevent pain and knee injuries in the future by stabilizing your knee joints. Sports medicine and sports health experts can show you specific exercises to target these areas. Biking, walking, swimming and any exercise that strengthens the muscles in your legs are also beneficial. Always consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise program.
Will My Knee Pain Go Away If I Lose Weight
According to one study, losing as little as 10 pounds can decrease the progression of knee osteoarthritis by as much as 50%. The experts agree that if you have weight-induced joint pain, losing weight can ease your symptoms by taking some of the pressure off of your joints. Losing as little as 10 to 20% of your body weight can improve pain, function, and quality of life.
In 2018, the National Institutes of Healths National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and National Institute on Aging released an analysis of a study of 240 overweight and obsese older adults. Researchers found that people who lost 20% or more of their body weight had significantly less inflammation and less pain. They could also walk farther in a 6 minute test than people who lost 5% of their body weight.
These studies show that losing weight is a great first step to take to reduce knee pain. For some people, dropping extra pounds is all that it takes to significantly reduce the pain in their knees. But keep in mind that losing weight wont reverse arthritis or regrow cartilage. However, it can stop or reduce the progression of arthritis in your joints and help you feel better.
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Knee Pain And Weight Loss: 10 Best Tips For Relief
- Post category:fat burn/Health And Fitness
Your knees are put under more strain when you are obese or overweight. Knee pain arises as a result of this. So, if you have knee pain, weight loss is one of the finest solutions your doctor may recommend.
Knee pain is commonly observed in overweight or obese people. Losing weight can help relieve pain and lessen the risk of osteoarthritis in many circumstances.
Scientists have discovered a definite correlation between obesity and knee pain. Knee pain is frequently relieved by weight loss. Especially if the pain isnt caused by an underlying ailment.
As a result, many doctors advise patients with knee pain to lose weight first before attempting any other treatment.
So, lets dive deep into the reasons and how weight loss can give you relief in knee pain.
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Why Is Obesity A Risk Factor For Osteoarthritis
When discussing knee osteoarthritis, one might assume that the added load caused by obesity is what causes the joint degeneration present in knee osteoarthritis but that would be only partially correct. Studies show that obese people also have more arthritic changes in their neck and in the joints of their fingers. The current explanation is that fat changes the metabolism of the whole body increasing chances of osteoarthritis.
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Weight Loss Helps Knee Pain
by Craig Primack MD, FACP, FAAP, FOMA
Knee Osteoarthritis is a major cause of disability and a common reason that people stop daily exercise. The estimated incidence of knee OA is 22.9% over the age of 40. The 2020 worldwide incidence of knee OA is estimated to be between 565.6 and 745.6 million individuals over the age of 40. Its incidence increases with weight and age and is associated with prior injury.
In a series of three studies, 9,683 knees were assessed for joint damage and osteoarthritis at baseline and 6,074 knees for progression of their knee OA.
The knees were x-rayed and assessed at baseline and again four or five years later. Changes that the researchers were looking for were joint space narrowing as well as osteophytes and these changes were correlated against changes in BMI.
Unfortunately, as we and our patients all too well know, as knee osteoarthritis and pain worsen, the next stage is total knee replacement.
Th important finding and takeaway message from these studies was that for every | unit decrease in BMI was associated with an additional 4.76% reduction in the incidence and progression of the bone defects in knee OA.
Try Ketogenic Diet For Weight Loss And Knee Pain Relief:
A high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet is known as a ketogenic diet. It works by reducing insulin levels, increasing fat burning, and creating ketones, among other things.
Ketogenic diets have been demonstrated to aid in weight loss. Even when overall calorie consumption is the same, some studies show that a ketogenic diet is more effective for weight loss than a low-fat diet.
A ketogenic diet, when compared to other weight-loss regimens, may help you burn fat, reduce calorie consumption, and increase feelings of fullness. The ketogenic diet can help you lose weight quickly if you stick to it.
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Can Losing Weight Prevent Knee Pain
- AposHealth Staff
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that affects more than a third of adults over the age of 60. So, for people who are obesemeaning they have a body mass index of 30 or abovethere is a statistically higher likelihood that they will develop osteoarthritis.
Special Note On Will Weight Loss Help Knee Pain
Thank you so much for visiting our website. Thank you for reading us too. We hope we could provide you with some valuable information about the relationship between weight loss and knee pain in simple language that can be understood by anyone. So, please feel free to share any of your feedback. Further, please share your experiences, if you are suffering from knee pain. We welcome your experiences. Those experiences may helpful for our readers.
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Approximately 72% Of Obese Patients And Non
A February 2020 study in the Journal of clinical orthopaedics and trauma suggested that obese patients and non-obese patients have pretty much the same complication level following surgery and that approximately 72% of obese patients and non-obese patients have post surgery improvement in activity level. They also equally suffer from similar complications including: patello-femoral pain, superficial wound infections, deep vein thrombosis and delayed wound healing.
For 72% there is some post surgery improvement in activity level, for 28% none. About three in 10 knee replacement patients do not have improvement.