Bariatric Apple Pannus and Apple Ascities Body Types: Relation to Mobility and Therapy

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Answer

Apple Ascities and Apple Pannus

• Apple ascites: weight is carried high; the abdomen may be rigid
• Apple pannus: weight carried high; abdomen mobile (apron) and hanging down

Figure 1 shows the apple body type.

Figure 1. Apple body type.  Image: Continued (licensed from Getty Images)

Identifying these different body types is crucial as your handling and transfer techniques will change with each.

Apple Ascites

Those with an apple ascites shape have a high waist-to-hip ratio. These patients have trouble tolerating any supine or prone position. Why do you think that is? The rigid abdomen causes restricted chest wall movement, poor ventilation (O2 sats < 90%), and decreased diaphragmatic activity. Postural adaptation is associated with hypertrophy of accessory muscles, jugular vein distention, and elevated clavicles.  They will be very uncomfortable if you want them to lie down in treatment.

The size of their legs may be relatively normal, with intact hip and knee flexion. However, they may display limited trunk flexion, ambulation, and wheelchair propulsion. If their hips and knees are intact, they should be able to walk around. Ask them what they can do and make them use their legs when doing a transfer. Chances are, they have found a way to work around their large abdomen. Again, they may not be able to bend too far forward, have limited ambulation, and have difficulty propelling a wheelchair due to the large abdominal mass. 

As far as mobility is concerned, they may be able to prop on their elbows and do a flat spin to bring their hips closer to the edge of the bed. Then, they may be able to push up their upper body and bring their legs over the edge of the bed for you. If you see this body type and they can move their legs up and down while supine in bed, you can instruct them to push up on their arms and spin around. They may tolerate rolling but may not be able to lay supine for a log roll.

Apple Pannus

Figure 2. Example of apple pannus. Image: by FatM1ke, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Here the belly button is mobile, and the abdomen does hang a little bit. When the abdomen is stabilized, the patient can tolerate the supine position.

Figure 3 shows a large pannus.

Figure 3. Example of a large pannus. Image: Muybridge, Eadweard, 1830-1904, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In the case of an apple pannus shape, the hips and knee flexion remain intact, and the leg size may be normal.

There is also a pannus classification.

• Grade 1 pannus covers the pubic hairline but not the entire mons pubis.
• Grade 2 pannus covers the entire mons pubis.
• Grade 3 pannus covers the upper thigh.
• Grade 4 pannus extends to midthigh.
• Grade 5 pannus extends to the knee and beyond. 

Figure 3 shows a grade-four pannus. 

Regarding positioning and transfers, these clients can turn on their side for ventilation and improved diaphragmatic excursion. You can place the pannus on some soft pillows while lying on their side. Typically, they can ambulate distances.

Some patients with the apple pannus distribution use a supine flat spin, and they pop themselves perpendicularly to sit up at the edge of the bed. They are the guys who scootch sideways and then prop themselves on their arms to sit up. The easier way for these guys to get on and off the bed is using a prone quadruped technique.

For more information on bariatric transfers and manual handling, see course 4352 Guide to Bariatric Transfers and Manual Handling, by Rina Pandya, PT DPT.