Abstract
OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to evaluate the vertical component of the ground reaction force, plantar pressure, contact area of the feet and double-support time using static and dynamic (gait) baropodometry before and after bariatric surgery.METHODS:Sixteen individuals with a body mass index of between 35 and 55 were evaluated before and after bariatric surgery. Thirteen patients (81.3%) were female and three (18.8%) male and their average age was 46±10 (21-60) years. An FSCAN system (version 3848) was used for baropodometric analyses (1 km/h and 3 km/h). The peak plantar pressure and ground reaction force were measured for the rear foot and forefoot. The double-support time and foot contact area were measured during gait.RESULTS:There were reductions in the ground reaction force in the forefoot and rear foot and in the foot contact area in all evaluations and of the double-support time at 3 km/h, as well as a significant reduction in the body mass index at six months post-surgery. The peak pressure did not vary at 1 km/h and at 3 km/h, reductions in peak pressure were observed in the left and right rear feet and left forefoot.CONCLUSIONS:Weight loss after bariatric surgery resulted in decreases in the ground reaction force and contact area of the foot. Plantar pressure was decreased at 3 km/h, especially in the forefoot. There was an increase in rhythm because of a reduction in the double-support time at 3 km/h.
Highlights
Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by excessive accumulation of fat in the body [1,2]
The aim of this study was to evaluate the vertical component of the ground reaction force, plantar pressure, contact area of the feet and double-support time using static and dynamic baropodometry before and after bariatric surgery
The results for the vertical component of the ground reaction force before and after bariatric surgery are depicted in Table 2, which shows the differences between the first and second evaluations, with a peak reduction in the ground reaction force at six months after bariatric surgery in all individuals
Summary
Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by excessive accumulation of fat in the body [1,2]. Overweight in combination with poor body alignment results in changes in load distribution and pressure on articular surfaces, causing muscle overload and contributing to joint degeneration [3,4,5]. The main area of absorption and power dissipation in the foot is the longitudinal arch [6], which can become overwhelmed by increasing body weight. According to Frey and Zamora (2007), most obese subjects complain of pain in the feet and ankles that is usually related to mechanical stress caused by excess weight [7]. Weight gain in both men and women increases plantar pressure, which is associated with foot pain [8].
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