title: Effectiveness of in-patient rehabilitation in obesity-related orthopedic conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present paper is to provide initial evidence that in-patient multidisciplinary rehabilitation is effective in minimizing the obesity-related disability and enhancing functional capacities in obese patients with motor disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred and sixty-four obese patients with orthopedic conditions admitted to our Rehabilitation Unit for multidisciplinary rehabilitation were enrolled in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  At admission and discharge (after 4 weeks), the following outcome measures were computed: body weight (BW) (kg), body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor and cognitive, Obesity-related disability test (TSD-OC), Visual Analogue Score (VAS) for functioning, Timed-Up-Go (TUG). Intensive rehabilitation addressed to obese patients with orthopedic conditions and motor difficulties consisted of a 4-week and 3-h daily multidisciplinary program covering nutritional, motor and psychological aspects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the outcomes measured, except the FIM cognitive score, improved significantly after in-patient rehabilitation. The obesity-specific disability scale appears sensitive to changes among groups with different grades of disability and the percentage of change does not differ among groups. Younger obese individuals generally showed to benefit more from rehabilitation interventions than the older ones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In-patient rehabilitation interventions appear effective in reducing both mild and severe disabilities related to obesity with orthopedic co-morbidities. This paper provides initial evidence that in-patient multidisciplinary intensive rehabilitation is effective in minimizing the obesity-related disability and initial support to the indications of the Italian Ministry of Health for such rehabilitation pathway. The disability grading could help the decision making of allocating patients to appropriate rehabilitation settings.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Unit and Clinical Laboratory for Gait Analysis and Posture, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Piancavallo (VB), Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capodaglio
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cimolin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tacchini
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Precilios
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunani
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D020127:Recovery of Function