Physical inactivity is the most important unhealthy lifestyle factor for pain severity in older adults with pain: a SHARE-based analysis of 27,528 cases from 28 countries

Review written by Dr Mariana Wingood info

Key Points

  1. Physical inactivity is the most significant unhealthy lifestyle factor associated with severe pain in older adults.
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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Chronic pain impacts about 50% of community-dwelling older adults, resulting in impaired functional mobility, increased risk of falls and frailty, and a reduction in quality of life (1).

Therefore, it is essential to identify modifiable factors that are associated with increased pain. Physical activity and physical therapy are often recommended for individuals with pain. However, little is known about the association between lifestyle factors and pain severity in older adults.

The objective of this study was to examine the associations between pain and unhealthy lifestyle variables among European older adults with pain.

Chronic pain impacts about 50% of community-dwelling older adults, resulting in impaired functional mobility, increased risk of falls and frailty, and a reduction in quality of life.
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Physical therapists are well equipped to address the primary lifestyle factor, inadequate physical activity, to empower their patients to set physical activity goals and create action plans to accomplish them.

METHODS

Design: Secondary cross-sectional analysis of Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, a survey of individuals aged 50 years and over living in 27 European countries and Israel.

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