“Could weight be a contributing factor for ankle and knee pain?”
I am a 33 year old woman, with a height of 5’2 and weight of 77kgs. I am now experiencing a lot of pain in my ankle and knees especially when I am in one position for too long. Could this be due to my excess weight?
18 Answers
Excess of weight can certainly contribute to ankle and knee pain, but you were only 33 years old so I would go to a medical professional to determine if there are other causes for your pain.
If you were to input that data into a BMI calculator, it would equal 31.1. According to the BMI charts, that is considered Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater. Part of the the issue is clearly from the BMI calculation (not me), however there may be other pathologies going on. I am obese also, my issues stem from being overweight and also having Genu Valgum and flat feet.
Most likely it may be due to anatomical and biomechanical alignment. See a podiatrist and ask about custom orthotics to help re-align your foot and ankle.
Wall weight can be a contributing factor it is most likely not the reason for you to be suffering this debilitating pain. All too often that is a quick and flippant answer provided by primary care
or internal medicine physicians that don't have a clear understanding nor have done a thorough history and physical. There are a range of factors that can be part of the differential diagnosis from orthopedic problems to arthritic problems. I would encourage you to see a lower extremity specialist for a thorough consultation to determine what is the source of your discomfort.
or internal medicine physicians that don't have a clear understanding nor have done a thorough history and physical. There are a range of factors that can be part of the differential diagnosis from orthopedic problems to arthritic problems. I would encourage you to see a lower extremity specialist for a thorough consultation to determine what is the source of your discomfort.
The more a person weighs, the more stress it puts on the knees, ankles and feet. This also increases pressure on the tendons and ligaments that support these areas. Every excess pound loss helps to decrease these pressures and will help get you back to doing the things you love- without pain!
Weight does play a factor in certain pain conditions of the lower extremity. Also, activity levels, standing or walking or running too long on hard surfaces in improper shoes, can all contribute to pain in ankles.
Weight is a possibility for problems with doing a lot of standing. There are a lot of other possibilities and I would recommend being evaluated with x-rays to assess the structure and possible deformities of the knee that could be causing pain.
Yes, weight can be one of the factor of pain in the knee and ankle joint. Also, you should try more supportive shoes with custom mold orthotics.
There are lots of factors that contribute to ankle and knee pain, such as shoe gear, type of foot (i.e., flat foot vs. high arch foot), the amount of motion you have in your hip joint, knee joint and ankle joint. Make an appointment for a complete biomechanical and gait evaluation. Recent weight gain or loss can also be a factor. There’s always more than one reason in medicine, especially when dealing with your feet.
Weight could be one factor contributing to your pai. There are many other factors that could be contributing to your ankle and knee pain, as well. Recommend you get evaluated by your physician.
Although weight can be a contributing factor; there are other factors to consider such as any past trauma to the ankle, family history such as arthritis, autoimmune problems, biomechanical weight distribution to and through the foot. Other contributing factors to be considered would be any past trauma to the knee, hip or back. A thorough initial physical examination of the foot and ankle would be recommended.
Other contributing factors to be considered would be any past trauma to the knee, hip or back.
Other contributing factors to be considered would be any past trauma to the knee, hip or back.
Could be the overweight or strain on the ligament. The overweight could be a contributing factor for joint strain. Do MRI to rule out any ligament imbalance.
Yes
Yes, body weight does affect our joints. Try to do a small diet to lose 5-7 pounds that would help your joints. Also, knee and ankle manipulations, google them.
Daniel J. Walters
Podiatrist (Foot and Ankle Specialist)
Your weight is not a factor unless you were over 350 lbs. Exactly how much time is "too long"? Also is there any pain at all when at rest or in bed? Please E-mail me back with your answer. There are a lot of explanations and with further conversation we can narrow down the possibilities.
Yes, this could be due to excess weight. It could also be due to not enough support in your shoes.
Increased body mass is a significant factor to overuse processes of the musculoskeletal system particularly the lower extremities. It has been determined that with walking and running we can produce pressure loads of approximately 5-1/2 times our body weight in the ankle and 2-1/2-3 times in the knees. When you consider the small surface areas particularly attributed to the ankle joint we can appreciate why this joint is the most frequently injured joint of the body. Further there are no tendinous
attachments to the talus which is the bone that resides within the ankle mortise and as a result the stability of this joint complex is based on bony architecture and surrounding ligamentous support. Clearly exercise is critical for good health to include cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and even mental but we must be cautious and understand the limits of our body and appreciate the activity and its pressure that it is exerting through the skeletal system. I have frequently advised patients with notably
higher BMI to begin with appropriate dietary restriction under physician guidance and begin weight loss in this fashion prior to engaging in high intensity activities in an effort to further lose weight through caloric burn. Alternative exercises that do not put excessive pressure on the lower extremity joints to include use of a stationary bike, aquatic exercise are a great initial means to do this. As body mass improves with weight loss then increased exertional activities such as higher intensity walking and running can be initiated with reduced risk of injury.
attachments to the talus which is the bone that resides within the ankle mortise and as a result the stability of this joint complex is based on bony architecture and surrounding ligamentous support. Clearly exercise is critical for good health to include cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and even mental but we must be cautious and understand the limits of our body and appreciate the activity and its pressure that it is exerting through the skeletal system. I have frequently advised patients with notably
higher BMI to begin with appropriate dietary restriction under physician guidance and begin weight loss in this fashion prior to engaging in high intensity activities in an effort to further lose weight through caloric burn. Alternative exercises that do not put excessive pressure on the lower extremity joints to include use of a stationary bike, aquatic exercise are a great initial means to do this. As body mass improves with weight loss then increased exertional activities such as higher intensity walking and running can be initiated with reduced risk of injury.
Hello and thank you for your question. I have found that some foot and ankle conditions are not directly correlated with an increase in weight. You could have a structural foot and ankle condition that predisposes your to foot/ankle pain. It would be helpful to know your activity level and your occupation along with a complete workup. Please contact the office during normal buisness hours if you have additional questions and concerns. Thank you for your inquiry!
