Joint Pain and Leisure-Time Physical Activity: Cross-Sectional Findings From the Cardiovascular Health Study

Background

Joint pain is common and limits leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in older adults. However, some older adults with pain are also physically active. Psychosocial factors that may indicate external engagement (such as social network) and internal drive (such as feeling able to “get going”) are emerging as predictors of LTPA and may explain why some older adults with pain are physically active.

Methods

We investigated the cross-sectional association of psychosocial factors with LTPA (kcal/week) in adults over the age of 64 with pain in their back, hips, knees and/or feet from the Cardiovascular Health Study. Psychosocial factors included: social network score from the Lubben Social Network scale and three questions from the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D): perceived effort, difficulty getting going, and trouble concentrating. Separate multivariable ordinal regression models estimated the association between these indicators and LTPA, while controlling for demographics and other contributors of LTPA: number of medications, number of pain sites, body mass index, gait speed, digit substitution symbol test, brain white matter hyperintensities, and mood.

Results

Among 902 participants (65% female, 14% Non-White) with joint pain and complete data, higher social network score, and no self-reported “difficulty getting going” were associated with higher levels of LTPA, independent of covariates. Associations with perceived effort or trouble concentrating were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Our research suggests that some older adults with pain are physically active and psychosocial factors related to external engagement and internal drive might be important targets to support LTPA. Studies should investigate the role of psychosocial states on LTPA among older adults with pain.

Impact Statement

We certify that this work is novel.

The potential impact of this research on clinical care includes the following: Resiliency factors such as psychosocial factors may be more important targets to promote leisure-time physical activity in older adults with pain than specific pain reduction strategies.