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Comparing fitness performance before and after breast reduction surgery.
Kerry Latham1, Walter Brehm, Danny J Sharon
1Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, 8901 Rockville Pike, Building 9, 2nd Deck, Rockville, MD 20889, USA.
Military Medicine
|December 15, 2011
Summary
Breast reduction surgery improves exercise comfort but does not enhance physical fitness performance in active women. Objective fitness metrics remained unchanged post-procedure.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Women's Health
Background:
- Breast reduction surgery is a common plastic surgery procedure with low complication rates.
- Patients often perceive improved fitness as a benefit, though this remains unproven.
- Symptomatic macromastia can impact physical activity and quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively assess the impact of breast reduction on physical fitness in active duty women.
- To determine if breast reduction surgery leads to measurable improvements in fitness performance.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of fitness scores before and after breast reduction.
- Study included active duty women with symptomatic macromastia.
- IRB approval was obtained for the study.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant improvements were observed in overall fitness, push-ups, sit-ups, waist measurement, or 1.5-mile run times.
- All participants reported symptom relief and increased comfort during exercise.
- Subjective improvement in exercise comfort did not correlate with objective fitness gains.
Conclusions:
- Breast reduction surgery enhances comfort during exercise but does not improve objective physical fitness.
- The study highlights the importance of objective measures in evaluating surgical outcomes.
- Active duty women provided a unique cohort for assessing fitness performance changes after breast reduction.
