The Correlation of Weight & Knee Pain

The knee may seem like a small part of your body, but it’s actually one of the largest and most intricate parts of the human anatomy. Your knees assist you in walking, help keep you standing tall, and allow you to lower and raise your body.  So, when you’re having knee pain, it’s concerning. This is especially true as you age. Keeping your knees healthy means keeping you healthy. Exercising, eating right and avoiding gaining excess body weight are all key elements. 

FellowshipLIFE is committed to keeping older adults healthy and active. We boast a healthful environment to help keep you on your feet and an excellent rehab program just in case you someday need it.  

The Effect of Weight on Knee Joints

According to the CDC, more than  41% of adults in the U.S. over the age of 20 are obese. If you feel a slight knee pain or a twinge while walking or climbing stairs, Harvard Health experts say your weight may very well be the cause.

Being overweight puts you at greater risk for developing osteoarthritis, a painful and debilitating joint disorder. It’s the most prevalent and disruptive joint disorder, and could require surgery.  Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear on your joints. When walking on a flat surface, your knees feel the force of 1½ times your body weight. The force increases on any incline and even more on stairs.

Losing  weight, even just 10 to 15 pounds, can make a difference in the effect weight has on your knee joints. A published study showed that losing as little as 10 pounds can decrease the advancement of osteoarthritis by 50%.

Helping You Get or Stay Fit

At FellowshipLIFE, we can help you get into and maintain the shape you want to be in to keep your knees and the rest of your body healthy. You’ll have the opportunity to engage with BRAVO Wellness, a customized wellness program that is personalized just for you. Our brand-new fitness center will be opening in 2023 on our Fellowship Village campus; there you’ll find all the classes, equipment and trainers you’ll ever need. Other amenities being added through our current expansion project include a wellness spa, saunas, shuffleboard, bocce ball and pickleball courts, and nature trails. Our culinary services at Fellowship Village are managed by nutritional experts and chefs who are passionate about providing you with delicious, healthy, wellness-focused dishes created with the best seasonal fresh ingredients.  You’ll find everything from a 5-star fine dining restaurant to a bistro & marketplace to a tapas bar & lounge, all right on-site.  And weight management options are served at all of them.

Rehabilitation Therapy

FellowshipLIFE is proud to offer premier rehabilitation and wellness services to those who may need extra help to prevent a knee injury or who need postoperative care after knee surgery. Our inpatient, outpatient and at-home rehabilitation and wellness services are available both to Friendship Village retirement community residents and to seniors in the surrounding area. Our services include state-of-the-art equipment, aqua therapy, mobility training, and many others. 

One of the best ways to keep your knees healthy is to keep your weight in check, and there’s no better way to do that than to keep moving and eat well. FellowshipLIFE provides many opportunities and experiences to keep you active and healthy. Contact us today to explore our many residential options, and any of FellowshipLIFE’s senior living communities in New Jersey to learn more about our inpatient, outpatient and in-home rehabilitation services.