If you are going to have one or both of your knees replaced in the future, you probably have a number of things on your mind, and odds are weight loss isn’t one of them. This is especially true if knee degeneration has made movement difficult or downright painful. However, if you can find a way to work towards a healthier weight before your joint replacement surgery, it can make a world of difference for your operation and recovery. In today’s blog, we examine some of the benefits of weight loss before a knee replacement procedure.
Losing Weight Before Knee Replacement Surgery
We’re going to look at a variety of reasons why losing weight prior to knee replacement surgery can be extremely beneficial, and the good news is that you don’t need to lose a crazy amount of weight to achieve these benefits. Studies have shown that you don’t need to get down to an ideal weight to reap these benefits, as weight loss of even 10-20 pounds can be immensely beneficial for your knee replacement outcomes. Here’s how losing weight can help with the procedure.
- Reduces Risks Of Other Health Conditions – Obesity increases your risk of other health conditions that can complicate your operation, like cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea and diabetes. Losing weight can help to reduce your risk of these complications.
- Surgical Risks Lessened – There are also a number of risks with the procedure itself that can be lessened by losing weight. Administering anesthesia can be more difficult in obese patients, and because there are some technical challenges associated with the procedure, you may need to be in surgery longer if you are overweight. The longer you are in surgery, the higher the risk for complications.
- Takes Stress Off Your Knee – Your knees are tasked with helping to handle the weight of your body, so the more you weigh, the more stress your knees have to handle. Conversely, if you lose weight, you’ll be taking pressure off of your knees. This is especially helpful if you are having knee replacement surgery, because supportive knee structures will be weakened following an operation. Losing just a little weight will go a long way in taking strain off your new knee.
- Shorter Hospital Stays – Research has shown that patients who lost weight prior to their knee replacement procedure were more likely to have shorter hospital stays than those who were obese and did not lose weight before their operation. Not only can losing weight help you get out of the surgical center faster, but doing this will also help cut down on expenses related to your operation and recovery.
- Better Recovery – Losing weight can also help you achieve better functional outcomes in the wake of a knee replacement operation. Obese individuals are less likely to achieve increased knee mobility and range of motion following a knee replacement compared to a patient with a normal weight. Overweight individuals are also more likely to deal with component loosening or implant dislocation, which is why their risk for a revision is higher compared to people who weigh less.
Again, it’s not about losing all of your excess weight. We understand that knee pain and mobility issues may make it harder to lose weight, but working to lose even a few pounds can make things much easier on you during and after surgery. Tweaking your diet habits and striving to find ways to stay active ahead of surgery can help you work towards a healthy weight, which can increase your functional outcomes and decrease the risks and costs associated with surgery.
To talk with a surgeon about how you can work towards a healthier weight ahead of your knee replacement operation, or to learn more about the knee replacement process, reach out to Dr. Botero’s office today.
