Summary
People who lose weight see all manner of body benefits, but overweight people with osteoarthritis of the knee have something else to celebrate: A study has found that each pound of weight loss reduces pressure on the knee by four pounds.
Original source:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,161150,00.html
Details
A new study shows that for each pound of body weight lost, there is a 4-pound reduction in knee joint stress among overweight and obese people with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Researchers say the results indicate that even modest weight loss may significantly lighten the load on your joints.
"The accumulated reduction in knee load for a 1-pound loss in weight would be more than 4,800 pounds per mile walked," writes researcher Stephen P. Messier, PhD, of Wake Forest University in the July issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
"For people losing 10 pounds, each knee would be subjected to 48,000 pounds less in compressive load per mile walked."
Although there are no studies that have shown weight loss can slow the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee, researchers say a reduction of pressure on the joints of this magnitude would appear to have a major impact on the disease.
Obesity is one of the most important risk factors for osteoarthritis of the knee.
Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. The disease progressively destroys the cartilage that acts like a shock absorber in the joints and results in pain, stiffness, and eventually loss of movement in the affected joint.
The study involved 142 overweight and obese older adults with osteoarthritis of the knee who participated in an 18 month weight loss program.
By the end of the weight loss program, the participants lost an average of nearly 3% of their body weight.
But when researchers measured the load on the knee joints, they found that each pound of
weight loss was associated with a 4 pound reduction in knee-joint load.
Accumulated over thousands of steps taken each day, researchers say the effects of this reduction of pressure on the knees should have a significant impact on the progression of
osteoarthritis of the knee.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher, author and award-winning journalist with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, and he has created several downloadable courses on survival and preparedness, including his widely-downloaded course on personal safety and self-defense. Adams is a trusted, independent journalist who receives no money or promotional fees whatsoever to write about other companies' products. In mid 2010, Adams produced TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural health video sharing website offering user-generated videos on nutrition, green living, fitness and more. He's also a noted pioneer in the email marketing software industry, having been the first to launch an HTML email newsletter technology that has grown to become a standard in the industry. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and enjoys outdoor activities, nature photography, Pilates and martial arts training.
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Sunday, July 24, 2005
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