Authors (including presenting author) :
Cheung SP, Cheung SH, Ma PK, Ip W, Law YC, Li L
Affiliation :
Physiotherapy Department, Yan Chai Hospital, Hong Kong
Introduction :
Background: Bariatric surgery is generally considered a safe and effective treatment option in managing morbidly obese patients. Majority of preoperative patients are described as “inactive” and “highly sedentary”, and they are reluctant to make substantial increase in their physical activity (PA) level postoperatively. It is reported that a proportion of patients after surgery do not meet the recommendation of PA, as noted by the post-op weight recidivism rate. A physiotherapy program targeted on modes of exercise, education, counseling and lifestyle change was developed to prevent weight regain in post-operative patients.
Objectives :
Aim:To investigate the effect of the physiotherapy program at 1 year after bariatric surgery.
Methodology :
Method: This study was a retrospective analysis of patients receiving a physiotherapist-led exercise program (PT) after bariatric surgery from Jan 2016 to Dec 2018. Patients who did not attend the physiotherapy program after bariatric surgery would receive usual follow up from physicians (control group). Weight, skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass, percentage of body fat mass and BMI of the patients were collected before operation and at 1 year after operation. These anthropometric and body composition measurements were compared between the PT group and the control group.
Result & Outcome :
Result: From Jan 2016 to Dec 2018, total 44 patients underwent bariatric surgery, of which 37 patients completed the assessment before the operation and at 1 year after surgery. Only 11 of them (29.7%) completed the program (PT) while 26 patients (71.3%) did not complete the program. The EC and control group have comparable mean age (50.8±8.5 years VS 46.8±8.0years), pre-operative weight (102.3 kg±14.2 VS 106.4 kg±14.1), skeletal muscle mass (32.9 kg±6.7 VS 34.4 kg±6.9), body fat mass (43.5 kg±5.4 VS 45.4 kg±9.1), percentage body fat (42.8kg±4.5 VS 42.8 kg±6.7) and BMI (37.4±2.7 VS 39.1±4.2). At one year follow up, significant reductions were observed in all outcome measurements from baseline to one year in both groups. When compared to control group, patients in the PT program had significantly lower body weight (72.5 kg±10.5 VS 80.4 kg±14, p=0.04) and BMI (26.6±3 VS 29.6±4.9, p=0.01) at one year follow up. Conclusion: Patients after bariatric surgery had significantly lower body weight and BMI in a physiotherapist-led program. The program can professionally advise patients to modify the physical activities and enhance the compliance to the modified physical activities.
