Dr. Vaishali Suri (P.T.)
The Obesity-Pain Cycle
Obesity is strongly associated with musculoskeletal pain — particularly knee osteoarthritis, lower back pain, and plantar fasciitis. Excess weight increases joint loading, promotes systemic inflammation, and is associated with reduced physical activity (due to pain), which leads to further weight gain. Breaking this cycle requires a starting point that is physically possible and pain-tolerable — which is where physiotherapy comes in.
Why Standard Exercise Advice Often Fails
Telling an obese patient with knee OA to 'exercise more' is inadequate. Impact activities (running, jumping) are painful and potentially harmful with severely loaded joints. The patient needs a physiotherapist to prescribe appropriate exercise modalities — aquatic exercise, cycling, seated exercise — and to manage pain to enable activity.
Physiotherapy Approach for Weight Management
Low-Impact Aerobic Exercise
Aquatic exercise (swimming, pool walking) provides significant cardiovascular benefit with minimal joint loading — the buoyancy of water reduces weight-bearing by 50–90% depending on water depth. Cycling (stationary or outdoor) is another excellent low-impact option. We design progressive aquatic and cycling programmes.
Resistance Training
Building muscle mass increases resting metabolic rate and improves insulin sensitivity. We design safe resistance programmes that load muscles without excessive joint stress.
Pain Management
Addressing the joint pain that limits activity — through manual therapy, electrotherapy, and targeted strengthening — is often the most important first step in enabling sufficient activity for weight management.
Weight Management Physiotherapy in Faridabad
At Realign Rehab Clinic, NIT-5, Faridabad, we provide compassionate, non-judgemental physiotherapy for patients of all sizes. Book your assessment today.