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The Lower Body Positive Pressure Treadmill for Knee Osteoarthritis Rehabilitation
Published on: July 22, 2019
Tackling obesity in knee osteoarthritis
Anita E Wluka1, Cate B Lombard, Flavia M Cicuttini
1School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. anita.wluka@monash.edu
Nature Reviews. Rheumatology
|December 19, 2012
Summary
Losing weight can significantly reduce the risk and symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Effective weight management strategies are crucial for individuals with obesity and knee OA, regardless of disease stage.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Metabolic Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Obesity and knee osteoarthritis (OA) are highly prevalent and frequently coexist.
- Obesity exacerbates knee OA through increased joint load, metabolic changes (metainflammation), and reduced physical activity leading to muscle weakness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review strategies for weight loss in individuals with knee OA.
- To highlight the benefits of weight loss for knee OA risk, symptoms, function, and progression.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on obesity, weight management, and knee OA.
- Analysis of mechanisms linking obesity to knee OA.
- Discussion of weight loss strategies applicable to knee OA patients.
Main Results:
- Weight loss is effective in reducing incident knee OA and improving symptoms and function in established disease.
- Weight loss is achievable at all disease stages, despite barriers presented by knee OA.
- While exercise is beneficial, it's not essential for achieving weight loss and symptom improvement.
Conclusions:
- Weight loss is a critical intervention for managing knee OA in obese individuals.
- A multi-faceted, societal approach is needed to address obesity-related knee OA.
- Interventions should consider disease severity when determining the degree of weight loss for optimal benefit.
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