No relationship was identified between changes in weight and walking performance post-surgery .
Although physical activity performed after bariatric surgery is associated with enhanced weight loss outcomes , there is limited information on patients ' physical activity behaviour in this context .
This systematic review and meta- analysis assessed pre-operative to post-operative changes in physical activity and physical function outcomes among obese adults undergoing bariatric surgery .
Rapid changes in gait, musculoskeletal pain, and quality of life after bariatric surgery.
BACKGROUND Joint pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint of morbidly obese patients that can result in gait abnormalities , perceived mobility limitations , and declining quality of life ( QOL ) . It is not yet known whether weight loss 3 months after bariatric surgery can induce favorable changes in joint pain , gait , perceived mobility , and QOL . Our objectives were to examine whether participants who had undergone bariatric surgery ( n = 25 ; laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or laparoscopic adjustable gastric b and ing )  demonstrate improvements in joint pain , gait ( speed , stride/step length , width of base of support , toe angles , single/double support , swing and stance time , functional ambulatory profile ) , mobility , and QOL by 3 months compared with nonsurgical controls ( n = 20 ) . The setting was an orthopedics laboratory at a university hospital in the United States . METHODS The present study was a prospect i ve , comparative study . Numeric pain scales ( indicating the presence and severity of pain ) , mobility-related surveys , and the Medical Outcomes Study short-form 36-item question naire ( SF-36 ) were completed , and gait and walking speed were assessed at baseline and at month 3 . RESULTS The bariatric group lost an average of 21.6 ± 7.7 kg . Significant differences existed between the 2 groups at month 3 in step length , heel to heel base of support , and the percentage of time spent in single and double support during the gait cycle ( all P < .05 ) . The severity of low back pain and knee pain decreased by 54 % and 34 % , respectively , with no changes in the control group ( P = .05 ) . The walking speed increased by 15 % in the bariatric group ( 108 - 123 cm/s ; P < .05 ) but not in the control group . Compared with the control group , fewer bariatric patients perceived limitations with walking and stair climbing by month 3 . The bariatric group had a 4.8-cm increase in step length , 2.6 % increase in single support time during the gait cycle , and 2.5-cm reduction in the base of support ( all P < .05 ) . The SF-36 physical component scores increased 11.8 points in the bariatric group compared with the control group , which showed no improvement by month 3 ( P < .0001 ) . CONCLUSIONS Improvements in some , but not all , gait parameters , walking speed , and QOL and of perceived functional limitations occur by 3 months after a bariatric procedure
No relationship was identified between changes in weight and walking performance post-surgery .
Although physical activity performed after bariatric surgery is associated with enhanced weight loss outcomes , there is limited information on patients ' physical activity behaviour in this context .
This systematic review and meta- analysis assessed pre-operative to post-operative changes in physical activity and physical function outcomes among obese adults undergoing bariatric surgery .