The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported last year that demand for joint replacement will grow dramatically by 2030. The agency expects total hip replacements to grow by 175%. Demand for knee replacements will grow by six times the present demand.
The willingness of patients to undergo these procedures stems from two causes:
- first advances in surgical techniques including the advancement of minimally invasive surgeries and
- computer assisted surgical systems help shorten post operative recovery and minimize pain.
The improvement of implants which now are much longer lasting make the procedures more viable options for younger and more active patients.
When you can’t stand the pain anymore
Osteoarthritis can cause joints to become so stiff and painful that everyday activities such as getting in and out of a car, driving a car or negotiating stairs can become difficult if not impossible.
If you have tried physical therapy, exercise, analgesic creams and lotions and even prescription medications and you continue to get worse, surgery may be your option of last resort.
But before surgery you might want to consider losing weight. A recent study of more than 38,000 patients in Australia found that there was a direct correlation between weight loss and the need for joint replacement. The correlation was especially strong for knees.
Not only does excess weight put extra pressure on the failing joint but there is now evidence that excess weight increases the rate at which cartilage is lost from the knee. Over time excess weight can make a person more prone to develop osteoarthritis and can cause the disease to progress more rapidly.
How extra weight harms the knees
Doctors at Johns Hopkins found that excess weight appear to harm to knees in 2 different ways. Of course, the biomechanical stress on the joint adds pressure to the knee. In addition, excess weight releases inflammatory agents into the body which can cause a faster breakdown of cartilage.
Even a small weight loss can help. According to Dr. Geoffrey Westrich of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, being 50 pounds overweight puts 250 pounds of additional pressure on the joints. Conversely losing 3 pounds can subtract 6 pounds of pressure.
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Comments
This is a very much known fact that obesity leads to the soften bones.
The joints would not be strong enough if the person is overweight.
Nowadays people are seeking for the alternative of joint replacement surgery and i truly agree with the author that maintaining your physical fitness and shape and size will lead to avoid of joint replacement surgery.
This also helps in prevention of many diseases.
I like the term "Prevention is better than cure".
Thanks for sharing.
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