Weight loss dramatically improves painful musculoskeletal complaints

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Monday, December 18, 2006 2:37 am Email this article
Complaints of musculoskeletal pain are dramatically reduced in patients following a large amount of weight loss after bariatric surgery. Decreased Pain

Musculoskeletal complaints decreased from 100% of patients to 23%

“Musculoskeletal complaints had been present in 100% of obese subjects before, and 23% after weight loss,” the paper notes.

The greatest improvements occurred in the:

• cervical spine, which were reduced by 90 percent,
• lumbar spine, which were reduced by 83 percent,
• foot, which were reduced by 83 percent, and
• fibromyalgia syndrome (unexplained muscle pain), which were reduced by 92 percent.

 

Subjects

Subjects : 48 people

The study involved 47 women and one man.

 

Weight Loss

Weight loss : 101 pounds

Patients started out morbidly obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 51, and lost an average of 101 pounds.

 

Conclusion

Conclusion : Weight loss helps reduce musculoskeletal pain

“The benefits seen with weight loss indicate that prevention and treatment of obesity can improve [musculoskeletal] health and function,” the papers concludes.

REFERENCE

Hooper M, Stellato T, Hallowell P, Seitz B, Moskowitz R. Musculoskeletal findings in obese subjects before and after weight loss following bariatric surgery. Int J Obes (Lond). 2007 Jan, 31(1):114-20.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr M. M. Hooper
Arthritis Translational Research Program
University Hospitals of Cleveland
3609 Park East Dr., Suite 307
Cleveland, OH 44122, USA
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