The role of semaglutide in knee pain relief
If you struggle with knee pain and weight issues, you’re not alone. Recent research published in The New England Journal of Medicine shows that a medication called semaglutide, taken once a week, may help reduce body weight and alleviate knee pain for individuals with obesity-related osteoarthritis. Check out the full study for all the details: Read the NEJM article here.
What is semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that helps with weight loss and is often prescribed for weight management. Originally designed for people with diabetes, it has been found to offer significant benefits for weight loss and pain management in knee osteoarthritis.
How does semaglutide help with knee pain?
The STEP 9 trial, a comprehensive study involving 407 adults across 11 countries, showed that weekly injections of semaglutide helped reduce both body weight and knee pain over 68 weeks. Here’s how semaglutide works:
Reduces weight: Participants taking semaglutide experienced an average weight loss of 13.7%, which reduced stress on their knee joints.
Eases pain: Semaglutide helped lower knee pain scores by more than 40 points on a 100-point scale, while the placebo group only saw a 27-point decrease.
Improves mobility: Patients also showed improvement in their ability to perform daily activities, with those on semaglutide scoring higher on physical function tests.
Safety and side effects
The most common side effects were mild to moderate and included gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea. Importantly, the rate of serious side effects was low, similar to that of the placebo group. This makes semaglutide a promising option for those looking to avoid surgical or intensive drug-based treatments.
Who might benefit from semaglutide?
Semaglutide could be a good option for those with a BMI over 30 or 27 with one comorbidity who have moderate to severe knee pain and meet criteria for osteoarthritis. In addition, patients who find it challenging to lose weight through diet and exercise alone may benefit from adding semaglutide to their treatment plan.
If you’re interested in a weight-loss program and want to schedule a free, 10-minute consultation or an appointment with our obesity medicine board-certified doctor, book one below.
