How to Address Obesity in the Patient with Osteoarthritis of the Weight Bearing Joints

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Every orthopedic physical therapist is confronted with the obese patient who is 80-100 pounds overweight and has osteoarthritis of the knees. After performing hundreds of straight leg raises along with other strengthening exercises, along with nonweightbearing activities such as cycling, and aquatic therapy, they too often continue to complain of knee pain. The reality is, until this patient unloads their weight-bearing joints they are not likely to experience any significant reduction in pain.

The subject of weight loss is often a difficult and sensitive one to bring up with your obese patient; however there are ways that you can present factual information and encourage your patient to make strides toward a decision of weight loss. I use an informational handout which highlights the relationship with osteoarthritis of the knees and body weight. I emphasize for every pound of body weight that they lose there is an equivalent reduction of 4 pounds of forces on their knee, and a 30% reduction in pain and 24% improvement in function with as little as 12 to 15 pound reduction in weight. I also appeal to my patient explaining studies have shown weight loss will decrease cartilage degeneration. Those that had the greatest weight loss during the study had the least amount of cartilage degeneration. In one study, those women of average height, for every 11 pound weight loss the risk of knee osteoarthritis dropped by about 50%.

However knowledge alone will not change behavior, so the second step would be to encourage them to make a decision to lose weight. You might ask them to write down all the benefits of being at a lower body weight. Then ask them to select 3 to 4 reasons which are most important to them. These might be to walk without knee pain, reduce their blood pressure medication, and be able to play with their grandchildren. You can then offer to help them set a realistic weight loss goal. Research suggests 5 to 10% reduction in their current body weight will significantly improve parameters of health. In my next article I will address how you might encourage behavioral changes that would facilitate weight loss.

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Jeff Gilliam, PT, PhD, OCS

Jeff Gilliam PT PhD, OCS: is a weight loss specialist, who has studied extensively in the areas of health behavior, exercise physiology and nutritional biochemistry at the University of Florida. Jeff has taught a course at the University of Florida called ’Research Applications to Obesity and Weight Loss’. He has also taught courses for the DPT program at UF in Health Promotion and Wellness’ and ‘Evidence Based Practice III’. He has presented on a national level on topics related to diseases related to obesity and changing behavior to facilitate a healthy lifestyle. His PhD research was in the area of effective behavioral interventions for obesity and its associated diseases. He is founder of Physicians’ Choice for Weight Loss, a successful lifestyle/weight loss program, which can be found in over 50 clinics in the eastern US. He currently is clinical director of ReQuest Physical Therapy (Gainesville, Florida) and incorporates his lifestyle/weight loss program into his patients’ physical therapy to help them achieve their healthiest body weight. Jeff Gilliam is an Orthopedic Certified Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties

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