Every individual struggling with excessive knee pain deserves a pain-free life ahead. If they didn’t get measurable relief from the medications, then opting for knee replacement surgery is the only hope they have been left with. However, if they are obese and have high BMI, they might be denied or face delayed knee replacement surgery, which might arouse their frustration. Are you going through the same situation right now? If so, then it is crucial for you to understand that surgeons do analyse your body weight and total BMI before performing knee replacement surgery. The reason behind this is that excess weight might interfere with the surgical process, causing blood clotting and even increasing the risk of infection after the surgery. Surgeons only suggest that you manage your weight and BMI so that you will be ready to go for the knee replacement surgery, thus reducing your complications. Now the question arises, how can you lose weight before the surgery? The answer is simple; thoroughly keeping an eye on your fat intake, along with lifestyle choices, can significantly help in managing an ideal weight throughout the time period before the surgery. In this blog, you’ll get to know about the tips for reducing your weight before knee replacement surgery, so keep reading.
Essential tips for managing high BMI and obesity before the surgery.
For thoroughly reducing the surgical risks, it is crucial to maintain an ideal weight and BMI, enhancing your healing process eventually. You can take your time, indulge in the persistent aim of managing your ideal weight and BMI, which should be under 40 or 35, thus making you physically fit for the surgery.
Low-impact and joint-friendly exercises: Managing an ideal weight before the surgery through indulging yourself in joint-friendly exercises is an excellent idea. Strengthening your knees before the surgery can significantly help in making your healing process smoother. Therefore, make sure to indulge yourself in swimming, stationary cycling and water walking, which thoroughly help in improving your knee joints and managing your ideal weight.
Optimize nutritional intake: One of the crucial ways for managing an ideal weight before knee replacement surgery includes the comprehensive intake of nutrients. Make sure to include fish and eggs in your diet, along with healthy fats such as avocados and nuts, for managing nutrient intake while you are in the process of weight reduction. Also, make sure to aim for slow weight loss, as losing weight suddenly might cause malnutrition.
Focus on pre-operative exercise: If you are unable to find out the best exercise for managing your BMI or weight, then you can engage with your surgeons, and they will guide you regarding pre-operative exercises. Such exercises include straight leg raises and quad sets to significantly strengthen your knees and glutes. Including such exercises can bring transformative change in your weight and BMI, making you an ideal candidate for the surgery, and even reducing the complications.
Engaging with a dietician: Losing weight and managing BMI require thoughtful planning for preventing malnutrition. Therefore, make sure to engage with a dietician for weight management, without making your protein deficient. They can help in providing you with an effective guide for reducing your weight gradually without making you feel less energetic and weak.
Conclusion
It has been apparently demonstrated from the above-mentioned points that aiming for slow weight loss and managing BMI before knee replacement surgery includes comprehensive planning and nutritional intake. Indulging yourself in joint-friendly exercises can thoroughly help in strengthening your joints and muscles, which would be beneficial during the recovery period. If you need any guidance regarding the needs and requirements before undergoing knee replacement surgery, then make sure to engage with the experts of Kalyan Hospital. You can discuss all your queries regarding knee replacement surgery with our expert orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Rajinder Singh.
FAQs
- Are underweight individuals not capable of knee replacement surgery as well?
Yes, being underweight can equally create complications during knee replacement surgery as being overweight. Therefore, make sure to ask the surgeon for guidance on managing an ideal weight before the surgery.
- Does a dietitian also help with exercises for losing weight before the surgery?
No, dieticians can only help you with an adequate nutritional intake rather than guiding you about specific exercises.
