According to Stats Canada, nearly 27% of adult Canadians are classified as obese. If you’re among this population of about 7.3 million, you understand the chronic pain that comes with being significantly overweight. For instance, one of the primary risk factors for developing lower back pain and neck pain is obesity. The good news, is that you’re ready to make changes, beginning with physiotherapy. Below is a breakdown of why a full service physiotherapy clinic will provide the support you need to remove obesity related pain and musculoskeletal malfunction from your life.
How Physiotherapy Plays an Important Role in the Management of Pain and Musculoskeletal Concerns in Significantly Overweight Individuals
Effective Treatment for Chronic Pain Caused by Obesity
As alluded to above, being excessively overweight is linked to chronic pain, There are both direct and co-occurring relationships between the two.
For one, there are bio-mechanical/structural changes that occur in the body when classified as obese. Obese individuals typically exhibit poor posture, which can cause spinal misalignment which may over time manifest as spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, and fractures. Consequently, clients/patients will benefit from a physiotherapy clinic with a chiropractor on staff to address poor posture and spinal alignment problems.
Studies have also found that obesity predisposes individuals to a pro-inflammatory state through increased inflammatory mediators IL-6 and TNF-α, and reduced levels of adiponectin, which collectively compromises anti-inflammatory function. Chronic pain often ensues, which once again makes physiotherapy critical to achieving health and wellness.
Effective Treatment for Compromised Gait Caused by Obesity
A person’s gait (manner of walking) is also placed at risk when they are excessively overweight. Research has found that obesity is associated with a slower gait speed, wider step width, higher hip medial-lateral (ML) rotation, and lower ankle anterior-posterior (AP) joint moment. Collectively these gait-related issues can cause pain and discomfort not only in the lower extremity, but throughout the entire body. After all, the legs (beginning with the feet) are used to support the body and provide locomotion. While healthy and controlled weight loss may be beneficial in recovering a normal gait pattern, steps can be taken through a physiotherapy clinic that offers custom orthotics. Custom orthotics can be adjusted throughout this weight-loss journey so that the gait is protected along the way.
Book a consultation with a full-service physiotherapy clinic that offers the treatments and therapies required to correct musculoskeletal imbalances and corresponding (and co-occurring) chronic pain associated with obesity. If located in the Greater Vancouver BC, reach out to Absolute PhysioCare today.
PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR OBESITY IN BURNABY BC:
CALL: 604.558.2273
EMAIL: in**@ab****************.com