New research shows bariatric surgery may contribute to long-term improvements in pain and physical performance.
Weight-loss surgery has many proven benefits, including lowering blood pressure, improving blood sugar levels, and reducing cardiovascular risk. Data from a large multicenter study of bariatric surgery in the United States now suggest that long-term improvements in pain and physical function could be added to this list.
What did the study see?
This research continued Approx. 1,500 over a maximum of 7 years The two most common bariatric surgical procedures were performed after undergoing either Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. Most of the participants were female (80%) and white (82%), with minority Hispanic (4%) and black (11%) participants. Their ages ranged from he was 38 to he was 55, and all had been diagnosed with severe obesity (body mass index of 35 or greater).
Before surgery, participants completed questionnaires reporting on physical performance, pain, health, and quality of life. Many were also tested on measures of physical function and mobility, such as he could walk 400 meters in under 7 minutes. Some reported severe or even disabling knee or hip pain, a symptom of osteoarthritis. Evaluations were repeated annually for up to 7 years.
What are the findings?
At the end of the study, 41% to 64% of participants reported improvement in body pain and physical function, as well as objectively measured walking ability. In addition, 65% to 72% of those with osteoarthritis symptoms had pain relief in their knees and hips. Also, 41% of those who could not walk 400 meters within 7 minutes before surgery can now walk.
Not all measures are good. For example, medication use for back pain before weight loss surgery and at the end of the study remained the same. Because there was no control group that did not undergo surgery, it is difficult to ascertain whether the positive changes were due to surgery and whether one type of surgery was better than another.
Why are these results impressive?
Improvements in health and physical function after bariatric surgery have been found to be greatest in the first 1-2 years after surgery. Positive effects on body weight, cardiovascular and diabetic health measures, and health-related quality of life were generally observed between 3 and 7 years after surgery, although the net effect remained positive overall. Decrease.
Most studies of joint pain, physical function, and work productivity after weight loss surgery are limited to follow-up within 2 years. As a result, it is unclear how long postoperative improvement will last. This study shows evidence of long-term positive changes in important clinical outcomes that matter in everyday life: the degree of body or joint pain people experience, the tasks they can perform on their own, mobility, and How you feel about your quality. life.
Why does obesity make joint pain worse?
Obesity can cause: Soft tissue damage in joints (Note: automatic download), can lead to osteoarthritis, a progressive disease caused by joint wear and tear.The hips and knees are most commonly affected. With 4 to 6 pounds of pressure per pound of body weight on each knee joint, an obese person is 20 times more likely to need a knee replacement than a person who is not overweight.
Conclusion
Obesity obviously has a detrimental effect on joints. Bariatric surgery, an effective treatment for significant weight loss, improves pain and physical performance, Reduce hip and knee osteoarthritis symptoms.
In addition, weight loss through bariatric surgery is possible for those considering total knee arthroplasty. reduce the risk of complications (Infections, blood clots, stroke, heart attack, etc.). Even better, you are far less likely to need a total knee replacement.
Taken together, these results show that bariatric surgery can have long-lasting effects in improving blood pressure, blood sugar, and general health beyond what we normally think. . It can also reduce pain and improve physical function and quality of life.
