The effect of balance training on clinical balance performance in obese patients aged 20-50 years old undergoing sleeve gastrectomy

It is estimated that over 1.9 billion people suffer from overweight worldwide, among whom 600 million people are classified as obese. Obesity can result in many health problems. One of them is balance control insufficiency. Obesity treatment and management may include a combination of diet modification, appropriate physical activity, behavior modification, drug consumption, and sometimes surgery. However, to the best of our knowledge the effect of balance training exercises on postural stability has not been examined among the obese individuals undergoing sleeve gastrectomy. This study aimed to assess the effect of weight loss and balance training on clinical balance performance. This clinical trial was conducted on 32 subjects selected through convenience sampling. The subjects were divided into two groups by random allocation (16 in the intervention group and 16 in the control group). Both groups underwent bariatric surgery. The intervention (case) group attended balance exercise sessions for 4 weeks (4 sessions per week), whereas the control group did not attend any balance exercise sessions. Before and after the intervention, the static, dynamic, and functional clinical balance tests were done in the intervention group. The tests were also performed in the control group twice with a 4-week interval. After 4 weeks of balance training exercise, a significant difference was found between the intervention and the control groups regarding static, dynamic, and functional balance tests. Attending balance exercises program for 4 weeks can improve the balance among obese individuals undergoing sleeve gastrectomy.