IBJI established the OrthoHealth program to treat painful joint conditions through better metabolic health and weight loss so that our patients could move better, live better.
Now, a recent study out of Denmark published on October 31 in The New England Journal of Medicine illustrates the efficacy of this approach (access the study). Study participants were randomized to receive either once weekly semaglutide injections or an identical appearing placebo injection. There were 407 study participants from 11 different countries who were followed for 68 weeks. The primary outcomes were weight loss, knee pain, and overall function.
Not surprisingly, subjects receiving semaglutide had significantly greater weight loss compared to the placebo group. In addition, they experienced significant reductions in knee pain (see figure 2 below), and significant increases in overall health and function compared to the placebo group.
The study authors concluded, like we have, that subjects’ weight loss reduced mechanical stress on the knee and led to pain relief. In addition, semaglutide has been found in prior studies to have an anti-inflammatory and anti-degradative effect, which could also account for the reduction in knee pain. (To learn more about weight loss medications, listen to our podcast.)
With OrthoHealth, our physicians have seen patients experience pain relief before losing a single pound, which speaks to the importance of proper metabolic health and its potent anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, the reduction in mechanical stress has led to sustained pain relief for hundreds of OrthoHealth patients, who also have decreased risk with – and even elimination of need of – joint replacement surgery.
To learn more about IBJI's OrthoHealth program, please visit our website.
