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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How can i lose weight with limited mobility?

    Related Topics
    Osteoarthritis Rheumatology Weight Management
    I am 55 years old with chronic arthritis in both knees , hips and back. I have been told to lose weight before they will opperate on my knees. Most days i can barely walk let alone exercise.

    I am watching what i eat but can't seem to burn the calories off. your advice would be greatly appreciated.
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    Lucinda Curran

    Acupuncturist

    Lucinda Curran of Eco Health Solutions offers a truly holistic approach to health by combining Building Biology and Chinese Medicine. Her work is solutions-focussed and … View Profile

    Hi!

    It is really hard to lose weight without exercising. 

    So, finding exercises that you CAN do would be fantastic - things like swimming or exercising in water (where the water supports your body weight) can be really beneficial. Consider upper body exercises.

    It would be worth going to see a good physiotherapist who can design an exercise program for you that matches up with what you are able to do - under their supervision and care, you will be able to build on strengths…

    All the best!
    Lucinda

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    Lillian Bull

    Exercise Physiologist

    Lillian Bull is an Exercise Physiologist with Active Partnerships, a private practice in Mosman, Sydney. Lillian has been working in the health and fitness industry … View Profile

    Arthritis is a common condition that can have significant impact on your QOL, affecting your daily activity levels, mobility and causing increased levels of pain. Exercise plays an important role in managing the symptoms associated with arthritis.
    Exercise mode is determined by the site and severity of arthritis. Aerobic exercise needs to be low impact to avoid excessive joint loading. Water walking, cycling, arm cranking, for example, improves cardio-respiratory fitness and can reduce arthritic pain. Resistance-based training increases muscle strength, joint range of movement and can reduce joint swelling and pain. The overall goal of exercise is to improve physical function and reduce the amount of wear and tear on affected joints.
    Exercise Physiologists specialise in working together with patients managing arthritis to ensure that exercise is safe and targeting the symptoms of the condition, such as sedentary behaviour, weight management, muscle weakness to reduce further degeneration of cartilage, and to achieve improved function and increased physical activity levels.

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    Chris Fonda

    Dietitian, Nutritionist, Sports Dietitian

    As an Accredited Sports Dietitian, APD and athlete (springboard diver), Chris has both professional and personal experience in sport at the sub-elite and elite level.Chris … View Profile

    Losing weight without exercising can be a hard task so finding some sort of exercise that you can do is better than nothing at all. Try non-weight bearing exercise such as cycling, swimming, arm-cranking, rowing etc. It is important that even with your arthritis that you continue to exercise as it can help to relieve stiffness by increasing blood flow to the area.

    In relation to your diet, simply making your portion sizes smaller and filling up on nutrient-dense foods such as vegetables, fruit (keep it to 2 pieces a day), low fat dairy, wholegrains and lean meat can help. Have 2-3 serves (150g) of oily fish each week such as salmon, mackeral, sardines, or if you don't like fish, fish oil capsules can help ease inflammation in the body. For more specific advice and a plan that works for you, you may wish to consult an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD). To find an APD near you, log onto the Dietitian's Association of Australia's website (www.daa.asn.au) 

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