To determine 1) whether patients with the inflammatory joint disease (IJD) meet current physical activity guidelines; 2) which factors influence physical activity levels and sedentary behavior in patients with IJD.
A cross-sectional study of 137 patients with a medical diagnosis of an IJD before commencing an NHS‐run inflammatory Arthritis Exercise Programme. Physical activity and sedentary behavior (SB) were measured objectively using a thigh worn physical activity monitor for seven consecutive days. Activity levels were subdivided into low physical activity (LPA) and moderate‐vigorous activity (MVPA). Firstly, activity levels were analyzed against current guidelines of 150minutes of MVPA a week. Secondly, the time spent in SB, LPA, and MVPA were analyzed against possible determinants.
29% of patients with IJD met current physical activity guidelines. Patients, on average, spend 10 hours a day in SB. Low physical fitness measured by the 6‐minute walk test was the only significant predictor (p=0.019) of high SB (R2 = 4.7%). Attending an exercise facility in the community (p=0.034) and low role limitations due to physical health (p=0.008) predicted high LPA following a backward multiple regression (R2 = 8.0%). Low role limitations due to emotional problems (p=0.031), higher physical fitness (p=0.002), and healthier exercise attitudes and beliefs (p=0.021) predicted meeting current physical activity guidelines following a backward conditional logistic regression explaining between 22.2% and 31.7% of the variance.
Patients with IJD are inactive and spent much time in SB. Good general health predicts high activity levels. No disease‐specific factors were found to determine SB, LPA, or MVPA.
Ref: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acr.24438
