When it comes to obesity, people often discuss the high risk of diabetes and heart diseases in obese patients. However, obesity can do a lot more damage to your body. Many people suffering from obesity report extreme knee pain.
They are also at higher risk of osteoarthritis than those with an average Body Mass Index (BMI). The more you weigh, the higher the pressure you put on your joints, making them prone to osteoarthritis and inflammation.
The Weight-Bearing Pressure on your Knees
When a person suffering from obesity bends down to pick something from the ground or performs any physical exercise that involves the knee joints, they put high pressure on the knee because of their weight. The knee has to bear your body weight, which can lead to the wear and tear of the joints and inflammation. The lesser you weigh, the lower the weight your knees have to bear in every step.
Less pressure on the knee joint reduces your risk of osteoarthritis and other complications that might arise due to the inflammation. Weight loss is also important for patients suffering from arthritis. High pressure on the weak knee joints can worsen the situation. You may need knee surgery in Thane, India to relieve the pain and restore your mobility.
Childhood Obesity: How Does it Affect the Bone Growth and Children’s Joints
Your knee, hip, and other joints develop during childhood. Obesity has a harmful impact on bone development. Overweight issues in children are mostly associated with the increased risk of damages in the growth plate, which is responsible for giving length and shape to the bone.
An obese child with a damaged growth plate is at risk of early arthritis and Blount’s disease. Knee specialist in Mulund don’t usually recommend surgical knee replacement surgery on children unless it is absolutely necessary. If their weight has caused significant damage to the knee or hip joints, surgery might seem the only viable way to recover the bone loss. Children are advised to eat a diet rich in calcium and perform 35 minutes of exercise daily to maintain their physical health.
Can Obesity Affect the Knee Replacement Surgery?
Obese patients not only have a high risk of developing arthritis of the knee and the hip joint, but they are also at a greater risk of complications from orthopaedic surgery. The surgery may also take longer for an obese patient than for a normal person. Here are the complications that an obese patient is likely to experience after orthopaedic surgery.
- Increased risk of excess blood loss
- Peripheral swelling
- Wound infection
- Pneumonia after the surgery
- Slow recovery
- Infection around the implants
The orthopaedic surgeon in Thane, Mulund, Mumbai mentions the importance of losing weight for a patient suffering from OA. Even if you lose a few pounds, you will be able to walk and perform regular activities more efficiently. Plus, normal weight reduces the risk of infection and inflammation after the surgery.
