Impairments of postural control, functional performance and strength in morbidly obese patients awaiting bariatric surgery in comparison to healthy individuals.
Max Lennart Eckstein, Jimmy Bradley Lawrence, Christoph Otto and 4 others
PMID 29765176WHAT IT FOUND
Morbidly obese patients awaiting surgery had slower walk-and-turn times and poorer balance than matched lean controls.
Absolute strength was similar, but strength relative to body weight and lean mass was lower. Aerobic capacity was impaired when adjusted for body weight.
Key findings
01Patients awaiting bariatric surgery took significantly longer to complete the Timed Up and Go test compared to lean controls.
02While absolute strength values did not differ significantly between groups, strength normalized to body weight and fat-free mass was significantly lower in the patient group.
03Postural control, measured by the modified Y-Balance Test, showed significant differences between the groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study included only 20 participants, which limits the generalizability of the findings. The design was cross-sectional, so it cannot determine causality or track changes over time. First lactate turn point could not be determined for more than half of the patient group due to elevated resting lactate values. The control group was recruited from an outpatient clinic, which may introduce selection bias compared to the general population.
Declared interests
One author received a scholarship from the European Social Fund. Other authors reported honoraria, travel, and educational grants from pharmaceutical companies (Boehringer-Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi-Aventis) and medical device companies (Medtronic). Some authors had no conflicts to report.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret similar absolute strength values as evidence that these patients have normal functional strength. The study shows that when strength is adjusted for body weight or lean mass, patients awaiting surgery are significantly weaker, and this relative weakness is what impacts their balance and daily function.