| Joints are the moving parts of the human body. | | | | two of the three compartments of the knee have |
| Every movement that you make can cause some | | | | become damaged. The drawback of having only a |
| strain on those joints. Of all of the joints in the | | | | partial knee replacement as compared to a complete |
| human body, the knees work the hardest. In even | | | | replacement is that there is a higher incidence of |
| the most sedentary person's life, the knees are | | | | failure in partial knee replacements, and obesity can |
| tasked with supporting the whole weight of the | | | | increase the odds of failure markedly. |
| body. Over time, excessive strain can cause the | | | | There are benefits to only having a partial knee |
| knees to wear out leading to the need for either a | | | | replacement, rather than a complete replacement. In |
| full or partial knee replacement and obesity is one of | | | | general there is a smaller incision and there is a |
| the leading causes of that joint failure. Other | | | | shorter recovery period. Risk of infection may be |
| common causes include sports injuries and repetitive | | | | decreased and many patients experience a full return |
| motion strain from some occupations. | | | | to complete mobility, comparable to their |
| The normal, day to day strain that is placed upon the | | | | pre-operative experience. In general, there is also a |
| joints of your hips and especially your knees is | | | | much shorter hospital stay required than there is for |
| amplified by any excess weight that you are carrying. | | | | a total knee replacement. |
| Over time, the excessive impact that even just | | | | While there have been great advances in medical |
| walking can cause may make cartilage weaken and | | | | technology, a successful outcome is determined by |
| wear down and movement can become | | | | the patient's attitude and willingness to do the |
| excruciatingly painful. If the pain is persistent enough, | | | | necessary therapy. Based on their experience, many |
| your doctor may determine that it is necessary to | | | | doctors have somewhat low expectations for |
| perform either a full or partial knee replacement, and | | | | recovery and may not be very encouraging. It is up |
| obesity is often the cause. Part of the post-operative | | | | to the patient to find and follow an exercise program |
| treatment for a knee replacement caused by obesity | | | | that has already shown proven results. Equally |
| is to lose a substantial amount of weight. Continuing | | | | important is finding a trainer or mentor who has a |
| to carry excess weight just leads to continued strain | | | | positive attitude toward recovery from knee surgery |
| on the joint and can cause the replacement joint to | | | | and who can teach anyone the same mindset. |
| wear out or fail. | | | | Believing it can be done and working with someone |
| It is estimated that 10 to 30 percent of patients | | | | who has already achieved the desired results is the |
| requiring knee replacement surgery may be able to | | | | key to returning to normal activities and remaining |
| get by with a partial knee replacement. A partial | | | | free from pain. |
| replacement may be performed when only one or | | | | |