The influence of body weight loss on gait and stability functioning in obese patients

Abstract

In our research, we studied changes of gait and balance parameters and the falls frequency in obese patients during weight loss We examined 37 patients aged 23 to 69 years (average age 53.6 ± 11.1 years) with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m 2 (average BMI 40.9 ± 9.3 kg/m 2 ). All patients received recommendations to adhere low-calorie diet and to do physical exercises in order to reduce body weight. We evaluated body weight, the number of falls for 3 months, 10 meters walk test along a flat surface and stabilometry in Romberg test at baseline and after 3 months of weight loss program's start. The average body weight decreased from 124.1 ± 26.6 to 118.1 ± 23.4 kg ( P = 0.022; 95% CI: 2.78, 9.22) in the study group in 3 months. The body weight loss was accompanied by the reduction of the fall's number for last 3 months from 0.14 ± 0.34 to 0,0 ( P = 0.023; 95% CI: 0.02; 0.25) and the speed of 10 m walk from 113.0 ± 8.82 to 105.5 ± 3.03 s ( P = 0.005; 95% CI: 2.86, 12.14). According to the stabilometry data, the coefficient of stability improved from 113.5 ± 9.11 to 104.0 ± 2.16% ( P = 0.012; 95% CI: 3.035, 16.10) and the movement speed of the pressure center - from 113.4 ± 8.9 to 104.0 ± 2.2 mm/s ( P = 0.01; 95% CI: 3.04; 15.81). Deviation of the pressure center in the sagittal and frontal plane decreased from 113.6 ± 9.1 to 104.0 ± 2.2 mm ( P = 0.01; 95% CI: 3.03, 16.1), speed index changed from 113.0 ± 9.1 to 104.0 ± 2.2 ( P = 0.01, 95% CI: 3.0, 16.1) and overall rating movement reduced from 109.9 ± 6.8 to 104.0 ± 2.0 ( P = 0.0037, 95% CI: 0.5; 11.2) after 3 months of weight loss program's start. The weight loss in obese patients is associated with the decline of falls frequency, improvement of gait speed, static and balance functioning.