Joint Health and Nutrition

A patient’s overall health and balanced diet are essential for joints. And joint health is crucial for living a happy, healthy life. Both diet and joint health are very closely connected and when one suffers, the other suffers as well. So if you’re having joint pain overall, it may be time to evaluate your current situation and orthopaedic doctors can help. Learn more about what you can do to feel more like yourself.

Nutrition and Wellness Programs

Many orthopaedic institutes have a dietitian on staff as well as a nutrition and wellness program that can help them safely and effectively manage their weight to reduce stress on their joints. Patients will work with professional experts and learn how to adopt healthy lifestyle habits for long-term results.

Joint Surgery and Weight Maintenance

For many patients, weight loss may be a requirement before approval for surgery. Doctors can perform less invasive surgeries on patients when their body mass index is less than 40, meaning less damage to the body, less pain, quick recoveries and fewer complications post-surgery.

Research has shown that just one pound of weight loss can relieve four pounds of pressure from the knees. Imagine what a five or ten pound weight loss which relieves twenty to forty pounds of pressure off your knees would feel like. Every pound makes a difference.

Making your health a priority is the most invaluable thing you could do for yourself.If surgery is not your goal, our dietitians work with patients to improve pre-diabetes, diabetes, cholesterol, and hypertension, and more! Perhaps you lack creativity in the kitchen, our dietitians are ready to guide you through a refreshing new routine. There’s no better time to focus on improving your overall health.

Some key notes to reducing inflammation through your diet:

• Eating more plants– low in calories, rich in nutrients like antioxidants! When you think you are eating enough fruit and vegetables, there is always room for improvement. Eat a variety in color to ensure an abundance of nutrition.
  
• Increase Omega 3s and Fight Disease– Omega 3s may reduce inflammation which is at the root of most diseases and related to cause of the most major diseases. These mighty heart healthy fats can be found in olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, and fish such as salmon, herring, sardines, black cod.
  
• Reduce animal proteins and increase plant based protein. Red meat may promote inflammation, aim to limit red meat consumption to once or twice per week. Replace red meat with beans based veggie burgers.
  
• Cut processed foods. Processed foods can be loaded up with sodium, sugar, and the not-so-great- for you fats which may lead to inflammation. Stick to whole foods like beans, grains, fruit, and vegetables which have anti-inflammatory properties.

If you are interested in reducing pressure off your joints, easing pain, reducing inflammation, disease prevention, weight management, our dietitians are prepared to support you in a way that best suits you.

The Nutrition & Wellness Program is Rothman Orthopaedic Institute's medically-based, evidence-based, weight management program. We have collected some of the areas top leaders in orthopaedics and nutrition to create a state-of-the-art weight management program.

Phyllis LoDuca is a registered dietitian and sees patients at Rothman Orthopaedics in Center City. For more information or to set up an appointment, please contact her at Phyllis.LoDuca@RothmanOrtho.com.