Tag Archives: knee pain

Could Weight Loss Reduce Joint Pain?

pain, neck, back. weightJoint pain can stem from a variety of sources. Whether it be injury or chronic condition, pain can be a disruptive part of your daily lifestyle.  You may need specialized medicine or other treatment to reduce some types of pain. However, you can reduce some types of pain with at-home treatments. A recent study has found that you can reduce some types of joint pain by simply losing a small amount of weight.

What is joint pain?

Joint pain is any discomfort, pain, or inflammation that you may feel in your joints. Common areas where pain occurs is in the back, neck, and knees. However, pain may also appear on or around the joint at the muscles, ligaments, cartilage, bones, or tendons. For example, arthritis is the most common form of pain felt at the joints. Furthermore, tendonitis, bursitis, and fibromyalgia are examples of other causes of pain at the joints.

Weight loss and pain reduction

A recent study at the University of Michigan Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center looked at the relation of obesity and pain. A group of 123 obese study subjects were placed on a low-calorie liquid diet for 12 weeks. Also, they were asked to increase their physical activity gradually. Study results show that a 10-percent loss of body weight over 12 weeks reduced pain in many areas of the body. In particular, study subjects felt less pain in the knees and hips, as well as the abdomen, arm, chest, and jaw. Researchers are not sure why 10-percent is the point at which pain starts to decrease. However, further studies may help to figure out why this particular percentage of weight is so critical to the reduction of pain.

How to lose weight to help reduce pain

Although the study talks about a liquid diet for weight loss, this is not the most practical approach for most people.  Therefore, follow the tips below to help you lose weight in a healthy way for the long term.

  • Read nutrition labels and be sure to choose foods that are lower in added sugars and sodium.  The nutrition label provides total sugar information as well as how much added sugar. Added sugars are those sugars not naturally found in the food you are eating that is added for enhanced sweetness.  Try to keep added sugar intake as low as possible. Natural sugars from fruit and dairy products are OK.
  • Get more sleep each night.  Studies show that people who get 3.5 to 5.5 hours of sleep each night compared to 7 to 12 hours each night consumed about 400 calories a day more on average. This could be due to sleep deprivation affecting appetite hormones such as leptin or ghrelin.  Therefore, try to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night for optimal health. If you have trouble sleeping, try reducing screen time at night, blackout curtains on your windows, or contact your healthcare provider for more assistance.
  • Track your calories to make sure you are not consuming more than you are burning each day. Use an app on your Smartphone or write down what you eat in a food journal.  If you are still having trouble losing weight with this method, check with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian to help you plan healthy meals and snacks.
  • Make sure you are eating enough fiber and protein each day. Animal products such as meats, poultry, seafood, eggs as well as low-fat dairy products are important sources of protein in the diet.  Fiber comes from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains from such foods as oats, quinoa, and whole-wheat. If you are vegetarian or vegan, be sure to consume plenty of legumes, soy proteins in tofu and soy milk, as well as plenty of nuts and seeds to get enough protein in your diet. Protein helps your body maintain lean muscle mass, which in turn helps promote healthy metabolism. On the other hand, fiber helps keep your gut healthy and keeps you fuller longer, which can both assist in healthy weight loss and management.
  • Drink plenty of water to help with promoting healthy hydration to reduce the incidence of dehydration, which in turn could cause your body to retain fluid.
  • Stay active. Moderate exercise each day for at least 30 minutes total is recommended for heart healthy. Exercise can also help in managing blood glucose levels and body weight.

Besides losing weight, you can also reduce joint pain with a supplement such as Relocane by Vita Sciences. Relocane contains natural anti-inflammatory ingredients such as turmeric which promotes effective pain relief.

-written by Staci Gulbin, MS, MEd, RD, LDN

Sources:

American Heart Association (February 2014) “American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults.”

Berkeley University of California Wellness (accessed January 12, 2018) “10 Evidence-Based Weight Loss Tips.”

HealthDay (February 6, 2018) “Losing Weight Eases Obesity-Related Pain. But How Much Is Enough?”

Mayo Clinic (January 11, 2018) “Joint Pain”.

7 Tips for Relieving Joint Pain in the Knees

Joint pain in the knees, ankles, hips, or shoulders can indicate arthritis, damage to the cartilage that rests between your bones, making it hard to bend, twist, or kneel without suffering from immense pain. To relieve joint pain, it’s important to learn how to treat the inflamed areas at home, while also visiting your doctor to rule out serious injuries that may require surgery.

joint pain in the knees

What causes joint pain in the knees?

Often, arthritic joint pain occurs in the knee when the soft cartilage of the knee cap becomes weak and fragile. Pieces of cartilage may become lodged into your joint area, causing severe aches and dull pain all around your knee area.

Joint pain in the knees can occur because of a sports injury, poor posture, or occupations that require standing or sitting in one position for long hours.

Symptoms include a constant ache in the front of the knees, limited movement and buckling.

What are the best treatments for joint pain?

First, see a doctor. You may need to take some x-rays. If there is extensive damage, then your doctor may suggest surgery.

The most important treatments are the ones that you can do at home to reduce swelling, alleviate pain, prevent further damage to the knee and begin the healing process.

1) Apply ice.

The moment you notice the beginnings of pain in your joints, sit down, put your feet up, and put an ice pack on the inflamed area. This will reduce swelling and cut down on most of the pain.

2) Rub on pain relief cream.

Use a safe, gentle non-irritating pain relief lotion that contains natural  ingredients that soothe the muscles surrounding the joint and produce a cooling effect.

3) Use over-the-counter medications.

Pain relievers (such as acetaminophen) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) can go a long way towards relieving joint pain and swelling in the knees.

4) Build up the muscle.

Visit a physical therapist to get a schedule of muscle-strengthening exercises that will help to speed up recovery and prevent further knee injuries.

5) Protect the swollen joints.

It may help to wear a brace or tight-fitting sock around your kneecap to sustain good alignment.

6) Take it easy.

If you’re used to exercising regularly, then this is a good time to take a small break. Until you’re feeling much better, avoid bending down to pick something up or sitting down on the floor.

7) Wear proper footwear.

Poor posture can cause joint pain in the knees, even if you don’t realize it. Cheap shoes that don’t cradle the foot properly can cause body aches and pains in the feet, legs, hips, and even the shoulders and back. Many people don’t realize the damage they’ve been doing to their spine until they finally sample orthotic inserts paired with good sturdy shoes that provide ankle support. And then, comes the relief…

joint pain in the knees lotion

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Do you have any other great tips for relieving joint pain in the knees, or elsewhere in the body? Please feel free to comment below.

Image by Praisaeng