by Physical Therapy SOAP Notes
In addition to coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension, being overweight is also a risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), resulting in painful and restricted movement, according to new research.
Stephen P. Messier, PhD, FACSM, presented a lecture on The Burden of Obesity: A Biomechanical Perspective at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine. Messier has been involved in research on understanding and treating OA for more than 25 years. His current work looks at the biomechanics of obesity among adults aged 55 and older.
He says extra weight also puts added stress on joints, impacts movement, affects gait (how a person walks), increases foot pressure, and decreases strength.
Messier notes that people who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of OA and the progression of the disease is greater. Every excess pound of body weight puts an additional 4-pound stress on the knee, he explains, adding, "A weight gain of about 11 pounds over a 10-year period causes a 50% increase in the likelihood of developing OA."
Messier points out that OA is the leading cause of disability among older adults. It affects about 27 million older adults in the United States.
In looking at the biomechanics of walking, Messier comments that being overweight can change an individual's gait, thus causing or exacerbating joint pain. In addition, obesity creates more pressure on the feet. This pressure can contribute to plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammatory condition caused by excessive wear to the connective tissue that supports the arch of the foot.
Obese individuals—those with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30—are five to six times more likely to have plantar fasciitis than individuals with a normal BMI (18.5 to 25).
In addition to joint and foot pain, obesity lessens a person's physical strength, which can impact activities of daily living.
But there is good news. In his work, Messier found that weight loss and exercise can improve function and reduce the pain from OA. His research shows that a five percent drop in body weight, combined with a moderate exercise program, results in a 24-percent increase in function, and a 30-percent decrease in pain over an 18-month period. For a 250-pound individual, this translates to a weight loss of 12.5 pounds with moderate physical activity, such as walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
In addition to coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension, being overweight is also a risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), resulting in painful and restricted movement, according to new research.
Stephen P. Messier, PhD, FACSM, presented a lecture on The Burden of Obesity: A Biomechanical Perspective at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine. Messier has been involved in research on understanding and treating OA for more than 25 years. His current work looks at the biomechanics of obesity among adults aged 55 and older.
He says extra weight also puts added stress on joints, impacts movement, affects gait (how a person walks), increases foot pressure, and decreases strength.
Messier notes that people who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of OA and the progression of the disease is greater. Every excess pound of body weight puts an additional 4-pound stress on the knee, he explains, adding, "A weight gain of about 11 pounds over a 10-year period causes a 50% increase in the likelihood of developing OA."
Messier points out that OA is the leading cause of disability among older adults. It affects about 27 million older adults in the United States.
In looking at the biomechanics of walking, Messier comments that being overweight can change an individual's gait, thus causing or exacerbating joint pain. In addition, obesity creates more pressure on the feet. This pressure can contribute to plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammatory condition caused by excessive wear to the connective tissue that supports the arch of the foot.
Obese individuals—those with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30—are five to six times more likely to have plantar fasciitis than individuals with a normal BMI (18.5 to 25).
In addition to joint and foot pain, obesity lessens a person's physical strength, which can impact activities of daily living.
But there is good news. In his work, Messier found that weight loss and exercise can improve function and reduce the pain from OA. His research shows that a five percent drop in body weight, combined with a moderate exercise program, results in a 24-percent increase in function, and a 30-percent decrease in pain over an 18-month period. For a 250-pound individual, this translates to a weight loss of 12.5 pounds with moderate physical activity, such as walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
