If you’re suffering from knee pain, you’re definitely not alone. An estimated 27 million people in the USA have osteoarthritis, characterized by the breakdown of cartilage, which cushions the ends of bones and allows easy joint movement. This breakdown causes bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement.
However, in some cases you may be able to experience arthritis knee pain relief through weight loss. Osteoarthritis most commonly occurs in the weight-bearing joints of the hips, knees and lower back. Recent research found that heavy adults with osteoarthritis who lost 10% of their body weight significantly reduced knee pain and improved their mobility. These benefits increased the more weight that was lost by patients, contributing to decreased inflammation and decreased joint load.
The Journal of the American Medical Association published the results from an 18-month long study involving 454 overweight patients. At the end, the following results were observed by the 88% who completed the study:
- People who undertook a combined diet-and-exercise regimen lost more weight on average than folks who either dieted or exercised.
- The diet-and-exercise group had less knee pain, better function, faster walking speed, and better quality of life related to physical health than the exercise-only group.
- The groups that dieted or combined diet with exercise experienced reduced inflammation compared to the exercise-only group.
- People in the diet-only group enjoyed a significantly improved reduction in the amount of joint load placed on their knees compared to the exercise-only group.
Pain isn’t the only reason to motivate those with osteoarthritis to shed weight. The increased mobility is a critical factor when it comes to maintaining independence as you grow older.
If you’re ready to shed the weight and improve your life, call Blue Sky MD today.
