Changes in Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Subsequent Sickness Absence Due to Any Cause, Musculoskeletal, and Mental Causes

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 867-873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ansku Holstila ◽  
Ossi Rahkonen ◽  
Eero Lahelma ◽  
Jouni Lahti

Background:The association between changes in physical activity and sickness absence is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the association between changes in leisure-time physical activity and long-term sickness absence due to any cause and musculoskeletal and mental causes.Methods:We measured physical activity at baseline in 2000–2002 (response rate 67%) and at follow-up in 2007 (response rate 83%) among middle-aged employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland. The survey data were linked to the Finnish Social Insurance Institute’s register data on sickness benefit periods > 9 days, including diagnoses (ICD-10; International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision) (mean follow-up 2.3 years). We used a negative binomial model to calculate rate ratios. The analyses included 4010 respondents (81% women).Results:Those who were persistently vigorously active and those whose physical activity level changed from low to moderate or vigorous, from moderate to vigorous, or from vigorous to moderate were at lower risk for sickness absence than were the persistently low-activity group. For sickness absence due to musculoskeletal causes, vigorous activity showed stronger associations, whereas mental causes showed no such associations.Conclusions:To reduce sickness absence due to both musculoskeletal and mental causes, middle-aged and aging employees should be encouraged to engage in physical activity.

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
JULIE MIDTGAARD ◽  
ANDERS TVETERÅS ◽  
MIKAEL RØRTH ◽  
REINHARD STELTER ◽  
LIS ADAMSEN

Background:Exercise is becoming an important component of cancer rehabilitation programs. A consistent finding across studies is that patients experience improved physical fitness and reduced fatigue. However, sustained physical activity is essential if the benefits are to be preserved over the course of cancer survivorship.Objective:This study examined self-reported short-term exercise adherence following a 6-week, supervised exercise program (muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness, relaxation, body awareness, and massage) in a heterogeneous group of 61 cancer patients (mean age 42.9 years, 82% oncological and 18% haematological) from the Body & Cancer Project.Methods:Semistructured interviews were used to quantitatively assess leisure time physical activity level 1 and 3 months after completion of the program. The study furthermore included 3-month follow-up assessment of psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale—HADS). Patient statements were selected that best illustrated trends found in the statistical material.Results:There was a significant postprogram reduction in physical activity from 6 to 10 weeks and from 6 to 18 weeks. However, the patients (half of whom were still undergoing treatment at the time of follow-up) reported a higher physical activity level postprogram compared to their baseline levels. The analyses showed a positive association between the 3-month postprogram physical activity level and pre-illness physical activity level, treatment, and postprogram changes in depression.Significance of research:Given the significant decrease in postprogram PA level, especially in subjects still undergoing cancer treatment, the study suggests that continuous supervised programs may be required in order to encourage and support exercise adherence in this population. However, randomized clinical controlled trials and more follow-up studies are needed to establish the optimal program length and content for sustained exercise adherence in cancer patients.


Author(s):  
Katja Borodulin ◽  
Tomi E Mäkinen ◽  
Päivi Leino-Arjas ◽  
Tuija H Tammelin ◽  
Markku Heliövaara ◽  
...  

Pain Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3094-3101
Author(s):  
Rahman Shiri ◽  
Tea Lallukka ◽  
Ossi Rahkonen ◽  
Päivi Leino-Arjas

Abstract Objective To estimate the effects of excess body mass and leisure time physical activity on the incidence and persistence of chronic pain. Design A prospective cohort study. Methods As a part of the Finnish Helsinki Health Study, we included three cohorts of employees of the City of Helsinki (18,562 observations) and defined incident chronic pain as having pain in any part of the body for more than three months at follow-up in participants without chronic pain at baseline (N = 13,029 observations). Persistent chronic pain was defined as having pain for more than three months at both baseline and follow-up (N = 5,533 observations). Results Overweight (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06–1.31) and obesity (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.45–1.88) increased the incidence of chronic pain. Moreover, overweight (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.02–1.32) and obesity (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.26–1.74) increased the risk of persistent chronic pain. Vigorous leisure time physical activity reduced the incidence of chronic pain (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.75–0.96). Physical activity did not influence the risk of persistent chronic pain. Furthermore, overweight/obesity modified the effect of leisure time physical activity on incident chronic pain. Inactive overweight or obese participants were at the highest risk of chronic pain (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.40–2.09), while the OR dropped to 1.44 (95% CI = 1.19–1.75) in moderately active overweight or obese participants and to 1.20 (95% CI = 0.97–1.47) in highly active overweight or obese participants. Conclusions Obesity not only increases the risk of developing chronic pain, but also increases the risk of persistent pain, while leisure time physical activity reduces the risk of developing chronic pain.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 240-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jatta Salmela ◽  
Jouni Lahti ◽  
Elina Mauramo ◽  
Olli Pietiläinen ◽  
Ossi Rahkonen ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Nils Abel Aars ◽  
Bjarne K. Jacobsen ◽  
Bente Morseth ◽  
Nina Emaus ◽  
Sameline Grimsgaard

Abstract Background It is not clear how physical activity affects body composition in adolescents. Physical activity levels are often reduced during this period, and the relative proportion of body fat mass and lean mass undergo natural changes in growing adolescents. We aimed to examine whether self-reported physical activity in leisure time at baseline or change in activity during follow-up affect changes in four measures of body composition; body mass index (kg/m2), waist circumference, fat mass index (fat mass in kg/m2) and lean mass index (lean mass in kg/m2). Methods We used data from the Tromsø Study Fit Futures, which invited all first year students in upper secondary high school in two municipalities in northern Norway in 2010–2011. They were reexamined in 2012–2013. Longitudinal data was available for 292 boys and 354 girls. We used multiple linear regression analyses to assess whether self-reported level of physical activity in leisure time at baseline predicted changes in body composition, and analysis of covariance to assess the effects of change in level of activity during follow-up on change in body composition. All analyses were performed sex-specific, and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results There were no associations between self-reported leisure time physical activity in the first year of upper secondary high school and changes in any of the considered measure of body composition after 2 years of follow up, with the exception of waist circumference in boys (p = 0.05). In boys, change in fat mass index differed significantly between groups of activity change (p < 0.01), with boys adopting activity or remaining physically active having less increase in fat mass index than the consistently inactive. In girls, change in lean mass index differed significantly between groups of activity change (p = 0.04), with girls adopting physical activity having the highest increase. Conclusions Self-reported leisure time physical activity does not predict changes in body composition in adolescents after 2 years of follow up. Change in the level of physical activity is associated with change in fat mass index in boys and lean mass index in girls.


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