Background & Aims

Chronic widespread pain (CWP) is defined as long-standing pain in large parts of the body, often in combination with symptoms such as tenderness, fatigue, psychological distress, and reduced general health [1]. Regular physical activity is recommended for persons with CWP to improve symptoms and general health [2]. To improve overall health, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a level of physical activity of 150 minutes/week at a moderate intensity or 75 minutes/week at a high intensity [3]. Persons with CWP have difficulties to continue to be physically active in the long term [4]. Person-centered rehabilitation might enable persons with CWP to become regularly physically active.
The aim was to examine if person-centered physical activity can increase the level of physical activity in persons with CWP at 12-month follow-up. Additionally, the aim was to analyse factors that characterize those who successfully achieve the level of physical activity recommended by WHO.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis based on data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT). One hundred thirty-nine participants with CWP were recruited from primary health care. The participants met a physiotherapist and co-created a person-centered health plan including physical activity. The health plan was then independently carried out by the participants. All participants included in the RCT developed the person-centered health plan and were regarded as one cohort in this sub-study analyses.
Data were collected through questionnaires regarding symptoms commonly associated with CWP, and a test of physical function, at baseline and after 12-months. Analyses were conducted to investigate changes in physical activity level from baseline to 12-months follow-up and to analyse possible predictors for reaching the level of physical activity recommended by WHO.

Results

One hundred and two participants (73%) completed the 12-month follow-up. The group of participants had a mean level of physical activity at a moderate intensity of 2.0 hours per week at baseline and 2.6 hours per week at the 12-month follow-up. The mean level of physical activity at a high intensity was 1.7 hours per week at baseline and 1.8 hours per week at 12-month follow up. The changes were not statistically significant.
Forty-two of the 102 participants reached the recommended level of physical activity according to WHO at the 12-month follow-up. Better experiences of physical activity, assessed with a questionnaire measuring different dimensions of experiences of physical activity, higher physical function, assessed with a questionnaire and a physical test and higher level of physical activity at a moderate-high intensity at baseline were associated with higher possibility of reaching the recommended physical activity level at 12-month follow up.

Conclusions

The participants did not significantly increase their level of physical activity at group level 12-months after they received a person-centered health plan, including physical activity.
The participants who reached the recommended level of physical activity according to WHO were found to have a better experience of physical activity, higher physical function, and higher level of physical activity at a moderate-high intensity at baseline compared to those who did not reach the recommended level.

References

1.Rohrbeck J, Jordan K, Croft P. The frequency and characteristics of chronic widespread pain in general practice: a case-control study. The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners. 2007 Feb;57(535):109-15.
2.Macfarlane GJ, Kronisch C, Dean LE, et al. EULAR revised recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2017 Feb;76(2):318-328.
3.Bull FC, Al-Ansari SS, Biddle S, et al. World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. British journal of sports medicine. 2020 Dec;54(24):1451-1462.
4.McLoughlin MJ, Colbert LH, Stegner AJ, et al. Are women with fibromyalgia less physically active than healthy women? Medicine and science in sports and exercise. 2011 May;43(5):905-12.

Presenting Author

Sofia Juhlin

Poster Authors

Sofia Juhlin

RPT, MSc

Närhälsan Uddevalla rehabmottagning

Lead Author

E-mail

Kaisa Mannerkorpi

RPT

University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology

Lead Author

E-mail

Anette Larsson

RPT

Region Västra Götaland, Research and Development Primary Health Care, Sweden

Lead Author

E-mail

Anna Bergenheim

Region Västra Götaland

Lead Author

E-mail

Topics

  • Specific Pain Conditions/Pain in Specific Populations: Nociplastic and chronic widespread pain