Patients with musculoskeletal conditions do less vigorous physical activity and have poorer physical fitness than population controls: a cross-sectional study

T Moseng; A T Tveter; I Holm; H Dagfinrud

doi:10.1016/j.physio.2013.11.005

Patients with musculoskeletal conditions do less vigorous physical activity and have poorer physical fitness than population controls: a cross-sectional study

Physiotherapy. 2014 Dec;100(4):319-24. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2013.11.005. Epub 2014 Jan 16.

Authors

T Moseng¹, A T Tveter², I Holm³, H Dagfinrud⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: tuva.moseng@medisin.uio.no.
² Institute of Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
³ Institute of Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Surgery and Clinical Neuroscience, Orthopaedic Department, Section of Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
⁴ Institute of Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; National Resource Centre for Rehabilitation in Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmets Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

PMID: 24529543
DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2013.11.005

Abstract

Objectives: To compare physical activity and physical fitness in patients with various musculoskeletal conditions receiving physiotherapy in primary care with population controls.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Participants: One hundred and sixty-seven patients with musculoskeletal conditions receiving physiotherapy in primary care and 313 population controls from various settings and geographical areas.

Main outcome measures: Physical activity was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short-form (IPAQ-sf) and reported in metabolic equivalents (METs). The 6-minute walk test and 30-second sit-to-stand test reflected cardiorespiratory endurance and muscular strength, respectively.

Results: Differences in physical activity between the groups were explored using the Mann-Whitney U-test. The patient group reported significantly less vigorous activity compared with the control group {median 0 [interquartile range (IQR) 0 to 960] vs median 240 [IQR 0 to 1440] MET minutes/week, respectively)} (P=0.001). A similar proportion of patients (68%) and controls (75%) reached the recommended level of health-enhancing physical activity (P=0.11). Linear regression analyses adjusted for age, body mass index and gender showed significantly poorer fitness in the patient group compared with the control group, reflected by the 6-minute walk test and the 30-second sit-to-stand test {mean difference 69m [95% confidence interval (CI) 52 to 85; P≤0.001] and six repetitions [95% CI 5 to 7; P≤0.001], respectively}.

Conclusions: Patients with various long-term musculoskeletal conditions receiving physiotherapy in primary care had significantly poorer physical fitness and reported less vigorous physical activity compared with population controls.

Keywords: Control groups; Motor activity; Musculoskeletal diseases; Physical fitness; Physical therapy modalities; Primary health care.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise Test / methods*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Linear Models
Male
Middle Aged
Motor Activity / physiology*
Multivariate Analysis
Muscle Strength / physiology
Musculoskeletal Diseases / diagnosis*
Musculoskeletal Diseases / rehabilitation*
Norway
Physical Fitness / physiology*
Reference Values
Risk Assessment
Severity of Illness Index
Sex Factors
Statistics, Nonparametric
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult