Knee Replacement Patients at Risk for Weight Gain

Patients who have had knee replacement surgery often gain weight after getting a new knee instead of losing weight. This runs counter to the assumption that a person would be more active after getting a new knee and would lose weight. Patients who have had knee replacement due to osteoarthritis may need encouragement to adopt an active lifestyle after surgery because they have become used to being sedentary, which can lead to weight gain.

Most people who have had knee replacement surgery gain weight after getting their new knee, according to research at the Department of Physical Therapy in UD's College of Health Sciences, led by researchers Joseph Zeni and Lynn Snyder Mackler. The study was sponsored by the National Institute of Health and reported in the online edition of Osteoarthritis and Cartilage on January 15, 2010.

Researchers followed 106 knee replacement patients who had advanced osteoarthritis. 66 percent of the knee surgery patients gained weight over a two year period, with an average weight gain of 14 pounds. The people who had knee replacement surgery started out heavier and ended up heavier than the control group. The weaker patients in the study gained the most weight.

Lynn Snyder-Mackler, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Physical Therapy at University of Delaware, stated in a press release from UD, 'These findings are making us re-think the component after total knee surgery and of patients not being in a routine of moving around.' Snyder-Mackler noted that it is critical that people not wait too long to have a knee replaced because their knee function gong into surgery usually dictates the functional level of their knee after surgery.

According to a statement by Snyder-Mackler, the habits that patients developed before having knee surgery are hard to break and they are used to being inactive because of the osteoarthritis pain. Knee patients need to get out of the house and be more active to get the benefit of their new knee.

According to information on the National Institute of Health website, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes pain, swelling and reduced motion in the affected joints. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include being overweight, aging and joint injury. Medical therapies for osteoarthritis include exercise, weight control, rest, pain relief and surgery.

Knee replacement patients should be encouraged to exercise and move around to take advantage of their new knee and to keep weight under control. If a patient has been inactive for a long time due to weakness and pain, they may need coaching from their doctor, physical therapist, friends and family members to adopt a more active lifestyle.

Resources:

EurekAlert: University of Delaware: Most patients gain weight after getting a new knee, 31-Jan 2010
National Institute of Health

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