Yes, any access body weight means added pressure to your knees, which causes increased wear and tear on your joints. This could eventually lead to osteoarthritis, the most common joint disorder.
Harvard explained the body weight to knee pressure as follows, “When you walk across level ground, the force on your knees is the equivalent of 1½ times your body weight.” The force is even greater when ambulating up or down stairs or walking up an incline.”
To put this in perspective, when you go up a flight of stairs, this adds two to three times of your body weight across your lower extremities. That’s a lot of weight! Your knees and hips are bearing most of this weight which affects the cartilage in your joints. Damage to the cartilage can lead to pain, stiffness, a decrease in ROM, swelling, and even the need to seek medical attention.
Learn 6 Exercises for Knee Arthritis.
Yes, obesity can cause leg weakness. People who are overweight generally have weaker quadriceps muscles which often leads to compensations in gait (walking/ambulating). For instance, someone who is obese may walk with their knee locked straight, into extension, to reduce the forces applied to their lower extremities.
Absolutely, losing a few pounds is one of the most important factors in managing the effects of Osteoarthritis of the knee and hip joints. Osteoarthritis (OA) occurs when the cartilage in our joints breaks down which then causes our bones to rub together. That is why people often describe this form of arthritis as the “wear and tear” or “degenerative” arthritis.
Studies have shown that people who are obese or overweight are more likely to have osteoarthritis than those who are not. Losing even just a little bit of weight would be beneficial for your lower extremities and place less stress/load on your joints.
Click to Learn Tips to Lose Weight.
Woman experiencing leg pain.
Weight loss would help decrease the amount of fat cells and reduce the symptoms of inflammation. Since inflammation with obesity is considered chronic inflammation, it does not simply resolve on its own. Luckily, reducing excess weight usually comes hand and hand with decreased inflammation.
Chronic inflammation can be seen with obese people due to an excess amount of fat cells. Your blood supply becomes compromised which results in reduced oxygen delivery to cells. This can cause cell death due to the increase in fat cells in your body.
Click to learn about body types.
Leg or feet swelling or inflammation can usually be treated by icing and elevating your affected lower extremity above your heart while laying on your back. Exercising or moving your legs helps promote proper blood flow which also assists with swelling. Moving around frequently after traveling far distances is beneficial for the same reasons. Stockings or compression socks can help decrease swelling as well. Lastly, as you may know by now, losing weight and maintaining a healthy diet would not only be beneficial for swelling but also for your joints, muscle weakness, and overall wellbeing.
Click to learn more about How to Reduce Swelling.
By: Mariah True, PTA
If you have leg or joint pain, the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute can help. The JOI team has the expertise and technological advances to get you back in action!
If you would like to schedule an appointment with a JOI leg or joint specialist, JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. This is another option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments with less phone hold times. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.
You can still call 904-JOI-2000 to make new patient JOI Physician Appointments if that is your preference.
To make appointments with JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.
