The central hypothesis that will be tested is that pain at rest (primary outcome) and movement-evoked pain (MEP, secondary outcome) will decrease after bariatric surgery. We will also determine if pain reduction will be mediated by improved pain modulation and select joint motion and loading variables. The study will feature a prospective, observational quasi-experimental cohort study design for within-group analyses of pain at rest and MEP using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and other exploratory outcomes before and 6 months after bariatric surgery. Pain at rest and MEP at 3 months after bariatric surgery are secondary endpoints. All participants will attend two in-person study visits and one off-site (remote) visit. Laboratory-based measurement and evaluation of pain and weight loss will be conducted during two in-person visits 1-3 months before bariatric surgery (Visit 1) at 6 months (Visit 3, primary endpoint). Pain surveys, weight measurements, and health questionnaires will be administered online or via telephone 3 months after surgery to assess acute post-surgical pain, weight loss, and other secondary and exploratory health outcomes (Visit 2). Descriptive analyses of all data will be performed by the NYU Biostatistics Resource directed by Dr. Huilin Li.
