Lower levels of physical activity are associated with pain progression in older adults, a longitudinal study
- 8 March 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in European journal of pain
- Vol. 25 (7), 1462-1471
- https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.1759
Abstract
Background While pain is common in older adults, the association with physical activity remains unclear. Currently, the role physical activity plays in impacting pain developing over time is not well defined. Methods Latent transition analysis (LTA) is a model‐based approach to identifying underlying subgroups in a population, longitudinally, based on measured characteristics. In this study, LTA was used to explore the associations between physical activity levels and pain classes of adults aged over 50 years, from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (n = 8,175) across three waves of data collection (4 years). Results Using three previously established pain classes (No Pain; Low–Moderate Impact Pain; High Impact Pain), 66% of older adults were classified as having ‘No Pain’ across the three waves. At Wave 1, individuals reporting low (OR = 4.00, 95% CI [3.21, 5.17]) or moderate (OR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.27, 1.99]) levels of physical activity are more likely to be in the High Impact Pain class, than the No Pain class. Longitudinally, individuals in the No Pain class with low or moderate physical activity were more likely to transition to the High Impact Pain class compared to those with higher physical activity scores (from Wave 1 to Wave 2, OR = 1.90, 95% CI [1.15, 3.37]; and from Wave 2 to Wave 3, OR = 2.27, 95% CI [1.40, 4.74]). Conclusion Older adults who do not meet minimum physical activity guidelines for moderate intensity exercise are at increased risk of higher impact pain when followed over 4 years. Significance Older adults who do not meet minimum physical activity guidelines are at increased risk of transitioning to higher impact pain classes when followed over 4 years.Keywords
This publication has 33 references indexed in Scilit:
- Design and Methodology of The Irish Longitudinal Study on AgeingJournal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2013
- Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 291 diseases and injuries in 21 regions, 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010The Lancet, 2013
- The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long form overestimates self-reported physical activity of Brazilian adultsPublic Health, 2012
- What do IPAQ questions mean to older adults? Lessons from cognitive interviewsInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2010
- Exercise and Physical Activity for Older AdultsMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2009
- A new SAS procedure for latent transition analysis: Transitions in dating and sexual risk behavior.Developmental Psychology, 2008
- Perceived exercise barriers, enablers, and benefits among exercising and nonexercising adults with arthritis: Results from a qualitative studyArthritis Care & Research, 2006
- Population impact of arthritis on disability in older adultsArthritis Care & Research, 2006
- International Physical Activity Questionnaire: 12-Country Reliability and ValidityMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2003
- The Hospital Anxiety and Depression ScaleActa Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 1983