Weight Loss and Exercise can help treat Sore Knees

Source: Tufts University
October 2, 2000 (Reviewed: January 17, 2003)

The World Health Organization estimates that 40% of individuals over age 70 suffer to some degree with osteoarthritis of the knee, a painful condition caused by the wearing away of the layer of cartilage meant to cushion bones where they meet at joints. Many people with osteoarthritis are overweight; this puts added stress on sore knees and can make the condition worse. A study in the September issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society illustrates that a program of weight loss and exercise can help improve mobility in those slowed by osteoarthritis.

Researchers from Wake Forest University in North Carolina assigned 24 overweight men and women over age 60, all with knee osteoarthritis, to one of two treatment groups. One group participated in an exercise program of walking and weight training for three hours per week. The second group participated in the same exercise program, but this group also met weekly with a dietitian who trained them in weight loss strategies. Knee strength and flexibility were measured several times during the six-month study.

Results show that everyone benefited from participation in the study--the people in both groups reported more knee strength and greater mobility in their knees and ankles, and most were able to walk faster than at the start of the study. Those in the "diet and exercise" group, though, lost an average 19 pounds (8.6 kg), compared with an average loss of 4 pounds (1.8 kg) in those in the "exercise only" group, and the additional weight loss appeared to make a difference. The "diet and exercise" group outdistanced the "exercise only" group in how fast they were able climb stairs. They were also less likely to limp and shift their weight to their "good" legs while they walked, an indication of reduced knee pain.

The chance of developing osteoarthritis increases with age, but doctors say that obesity both increases a person's risk of developing the condition and makes the damage worse in those who already have it. Overweight people with osteoarthritis often feel caught in a "no win" situation--their sore knees discourage exercise, but a sedentary lifestyle further fuels their weight problem that, in turn, worsens the condition. Regular exercise can help manage the osteoarthritis by keeping joints flexible and improving muscle strength. The good news is that there are strategies that people with arthritis can use to help get them started on an exercise program. As this study suggests, though, a weight control plan that reduces the burden on arthritis-damaged knees also needs to be a key health priory for osteoarthritis sufferers who are currently overweight.

Source

• Exercise and weight loss in obese older adults with knee osteoarthritis: a preliminary study. S. Messier,  et al., Journal of the American Geriatrics Society., 2000, vol. 48, pp. 1062--1072

Related Links
Tufts University's Nutrition Navigator

Please take a moment to give us your comments. For questions about Health matters you may check our "Questions & Answers" Portal and Service.