Effects of Nutrition and Physical Therapy On Weight Bearing Joint Replacements
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Human Nutrition
Abstract
This thesis paper examines the effects of nutrition and physical therapy on weight bearing joints that have been replaced. Modern medicine allows people to live longer than ever before. With living longer, issues such as joint replacements have arisen. Recently, there has been an obesity epidemic, which may lead to the increased need for weight bearing joint replacements. The effects of diet and nutrition on weight and the effects weight has on joints have been examined by way of literature review. There has been research on physical therapy following joint replacement. The effects of physical therapy on joint replacement patients are positive and have been investigated by way of literature review. Both adequate nutrition and physical therapy are likely to be important to the best outcome of a joint replacement surgery. There have been no studies conducted on the effects of both of these aspects combined on patients. Included in the theses is an experimental design to study the effects of nutrition and dietetic education before, during, and after a joint replacement, and the effects of physical therapy on the replaced joint. The application of both education and physical therapy could be beneficial to better outcomes of joint replacements for patients undergoing the surgery. If individuals were not overweight or obese, the joint replacement surgery would have better and more long lasting outcomes. The conclusion for the study will not be found, but hopefully, in the future the experiment could be completed and the results published.
Honors Thesis Committee
Jessica Boulware, M.A., M.S.; Leslie Thompson, M.S.; and Lauren Sastre, Ph.D.
Start Date
21-4-2017 1:15 PM
Effects of Nutrition and Physical Therapy On Weight Bearing Joint Replacements
West Center, Room 219
This thesis paper examines the effects of nutrition and physical therapy on weight bearing joints that have been replaced. Modern medicine allows people to live longer than ever before. With living longer, issues such as joint replacements have arisen. Recently, there has been an obesity epidemic, which may lead to the increased need for weight bearing joint replacements. The effects of diet and nutrition on weight and the effects weight has on joints have been examined by way of literature review. There has been research on physical therapy following joint replacement. The effects of physical therapy on joint replacement patients are positive and have been investigated by way of literature review. Both adequate nutrition and physical therapy are likely to be important to the best outcome of a joint replacement surgery. There have been no studies conducted on the effects of both of these aspects combined on patients. Included in the theses is an experimental design to study the effects of nutrition and dietetic education before, during, and after a joint replacement, and the effects of physical therapy on the replaced joint. The application of both education and physical therapy could be beneficial to better outcomes of joint replacements for patients undergoing the surgery. If individuals were not overweight or obese, the joint replacement surgery would have better and more long lasting outcomes. The conclusion for the study will not be found, but hopefully, in the future the experiment could be completed and the results published.
