Changes in spatiotemporal gait patterns during flat ground walking and obstacle crossing 1 year after bariatric surgery.

Background: Obesity has a negative impact on motor function, leading to an increase in fall risk. Massive weight loss improves some aspects of gait on flat ground. However, we have little information about whether gait changes during flat-ground walking and during more complex motor tasks beyond flat-ground walking.
Objectives: Our objectives were to examine how massive weight loss after Roux-en-Y bariatric surgery affects gait during flat-ground walking and obstacle crossing 1 year postsurgery.
Setting: University hospital, United States.
Methods: Nineteen women walked under 5 conditions: initial baseline walking on flat ground, crossing 3 obstacle heights, and final baseline walking on flat ground, for a total of 25 trials. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were collected simultaneously using a gait carpet and body-worn sensors.
Results: Gait improved postsurgery, with the strongest effect observed for double-limb support time during flat-ground walking (P<.001) and obstacle crossing (P<.001). The reduction in body mass index was correlated with improved swing (P<.01) and double-limb support time (P<.01) during flat-ground walking and improved swing during obstacle crossing on low (P<.01), medium (P<.01), and high (P<.01) obstacles. Improved gait postsurgery was more pronounced on high obstacles for velocity (P<.001) and double-limb support time (P< .001).
Conclusions: Massive weight loss results in improved spatiotemporal gait patterns during flat-ground walking. Examining how massive weight loss affects spatiotemporal gait may help create ways to encourage a more active lifestyle for adults with obesity.
(Copyright © 2016 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)