Association of physical workload and leisure time physical activity with incident mobility limitations: a follow-up study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Association of physical workload and leisure time physical activity with incident mobility limitations

T2 - a follow-up study

AU - Mänty, M

AU - Møller, A

AU - Nilsson, C

AU - Lund, R

AU - Christensen, U

AU - Avlund, K

N1 - Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

PY - 2014/8

Y1 - 2014/8

N2 - OBJECTIVES: To examine individual as well as joint associations of physical workload and leisure time physical activity with incident mobility limitations in initially well-functioning middle-aged workers.METHODS: This study is based on 6-year follow-up data of the Danish Longitudinal Study on Work, Unemployment and Health. Physical workload was reported at baseline and categorised as light, moderate or heavy. Baseline leisure time physical activity level was categorised as sedentary or active following the current recommendations on physical activity. Incidence of mobility limitations in climbing stairs and running among initially well-functioning workers (n=3202 and n=2821, respectively) was assessed during follow-up.RESULTS: Higher workload increased whereas active leisure time decreased the risk of developing mobility limitations. The incidence of limitations increased progressively with higher workload regardless of level of leisure time physical activity, although the risks tended to be higher among those with sedentary leisure time compared with their active counterparts. All in all, the risk for onset of mobility limitations was highest among those with heavy workload combined with sedentary leisure time and lowest among those with light workload combined with active leisure time.CONCLUSIONS: Although leisure time physical activity prevents development of mobility decline, high workload seems to accelerate the progression of mobility limitations among both those with active and sedentary leisure time. Therefore, efforts should be made to recommend people to engage in physical activity regardless of their physical workload.

AB - OBJECTIVES: To examine individual as well as joint associations of physical workload and leisure time physical activity with incident mobility limitations in initially well-functioning middle-aged workers.METHODS: This study is based on 6-year follow-up data of the Danish Longitudinal Study on Work, Unemployment and Health. Physical workload was reported at baseline and categorised as light, moderate or heavy. Baseline leisure time physical activity level was categorised as sedentary or active following the current recommendations on physical activity. Incidence of mobility limitations in climbing stairs and running among initially well-functioning workers (n=3202 and n=2821, respectively) was assessed during follow-up.RESULTS: Higher workload increased whereas active leisure time decreased the risk of developing mobility limitations. The incidence of limitations increased progressively with higher workload regardless of level of leisure time physical activity, although the risks tended to be higher among those with sedentary leisure time compared with their active counterparts. All in all, the risk for onset of mobility limitations was highest among those with heavy workload combined with sedentary leisure time and lowest among those with light workload combined with active leisure time.CONCLUSIONS: Although leisure time physical activity prevents development of mobility decline, high workload seems to accelerate the progression of mobility limitations among both those with active and sedentary leisure time. Therefore, efforts should be made to recommend people to engage in physical activity regardless of their physical workload.

KW - Adult

KW - Denmark

KW - Exercise

KW - Female

KW - Follow-Up Studies

KW - Humans

KW - Leisure Activities

KW - Longitudinal Studies

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Mobility Limitation

KW - Movement

KW - Occupations

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Sedentary Lifestyle

KW - Stress, Mechanical

KW - Work

KW - Workload

U2 - 10.1136/oemed-2013-101883

DO - 10.1136/oemed-2013-101883

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24879373

SN - 1351-0711

VL - 71

SP - 543

EP - 548

JO - Occupational and Environmental Medicine

JF - Occupational and Environmental Medicine

IS - 8

ER -