Physical Therapy for Pre- and Post-Bariatric Surgery

“Obesity may be a quite common problem nowadays where more than one third of all adults are obese, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Those with a BMI of 40 or higher are considered severely obese & might develop other health conditions as well.” -Says Dt. Samrat Jankar who is a Pune based gastroenterologist.

Bariatric surgeries are wont to treat severe obesity. A variety of procedures, which vary considerably in risk and effectiveness, restrict the quantity of food which will be consumed, typically leading to significant weight loss. The surgeries also may improve other obesity-related conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart condition, stroke, obstructive apnea, and certain sorts of cancer.

“Physical therapists can facilitate exercise programs to enhance outcomes and keep patients healthy. Experts believe that physical activity can help people reduce excessive weight and know about other positive outcomes after bariatric surgery. However, because most bariatric patients are relatively inactive before surgery, they'll have difficulty embracing exercise post-surgery.” Says Dr. Jankar.

Patients considering or recovering from bariatric surgery are more likely to keep the load off and ultimately enjoy better outcomes when appropriate exercise is incorporated into their treatment plan. This will be challenging for a few, but with physiotherapy, success is surely achievable.

Pre-and Post-Surgical Recommendations

To help patients achieve maximum weight loss and other benefits following bariatric surgery, research indicates that patients need reassurance and support before and after surgery, the sort of support which will be obtained through physiotherapy.

Doctors recommend aerobic conditioning and lightweight resistance training of 20 minutes per day, three or four days every week before bariatric surgery to enhance cardiorespiratory fitness, reduce the danger of surgical complications, speed healing, and enhance the potential for recovery. This includes a minimum of half-hour of exercise per day. To take care of a healthy weight, increased physical activity is important.

Physical Therapy and Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery patients stand to realize noticeable benefits from physical activity under the guidance of a physiotherapist. Therapies which will be extremely beneficial include balance training, anti-gravity treadmills, exercises to enhance strength and adaptability, and aerobics consistent with fitness level. Exercise not only helps patients control and manage weight, but it also prevents and manages a spread of chronic medical conditions and improves coronary risk factors.

After bariatric surgery, your physiotherapy training regimen should focus on:

Cardio-aerobic exercise to strengthen the guts and lungs, boost mental sharpness, increase bone density, and produce endorphins to assist combat anxiety and depression.

Strength training to take care of lean muscle mass, keep bones strong, and tone and build muscles so patients can remain active.

Flexibility, including walking and stretching exercises to assist avoid injury.

A post-bariatric surgery exercise program will typically begin slowly as recovery progresses, and gradually evolve over subsequent six to eight weeks toward the patient’s fitness goals. Because the body continues to heal and strengthen, post-bariatric patients must increase activity accordingly to assist keep the load off and reclaim their health.

Make Movement a Priority

According to recent guidelines issued as a part of the Move Your Way initiative, certain age groups need a mixture of physical activity to remain healthy:

• Preschool-aged children (3-5 years old): should move for a minimum of 3 hours. During this age bracket, activity should appear as if active play versus sitting activities.
• Children and adolescents (6-17 years old): need a minimum of an hour of activity each day. This might include sports or other vigorous activity to extend bone and muscle health.
• Adults (ages 18-64): should do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate to intense activity per week. this might include activities like brisk walking, running, playing a sport like tennis. Adults should also participate during a strengthening activity twice per week. For ladies this is often especially important to scale back the risks of osteopenia and osteoporosis.
• Older adults (65 and older): should also participate in 150 minutes of aerobic activity. This might include activities like walking, golfing, and gardening. It's also important for older adults to feature balance activities to their weekly routine.
• Adults with chronic conditions: should consult a healthcare provider before starting an exercise program, but should aim for 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic activity.

Per recommendations, you'll achieve an equivalent benefits in half the time if you step it up to vigorous-intensity aerobic activity. Making movement a priority in your day can improve your quality of life and is one among the simplest methods to prevent or improve chronic health conditions.

Don’t Know Where to Begin? Start with Experts in Movement

Physical therapists treat all ages and skill levels. Your first visit will start with an evaluation. An evaluation is time for a physiotherapist to test:

• Range-of-Motion and adaptability
• Muscle strength of your arms and legs
• Gait and Balance
• Endurance and Aerobic Capacity

Once a physiotherapist has completed the evaluation he or she is going to develop an custom treatment guide to meet your specific needs and goals (based on your evaluation, of course). A fast consultation also can assist you overcome a number of your fears about activity. Let’s check out a couple of .

• It’s getting to hurt- Pain makes movement challenging for a few. But a physiotherapist can assist you move in a much better & more pain-free way.
• I don’t have the proper equipment- You don’t need fancy equipment. Physical activity can be done at your home, like climbing stairs and customary home items, like cans of soup, are often used as weights.
• I’m too tired to exercise- Exercise improves energy levels. Exercise increases oxygen and nutrients being delivered to organs and therefore the brain. It promotes better sleep and psychological state which are all key factors to improving our energy levels.