Higher physical activity is associated with lower activity limitation: Cross-sectional analyses among the Spanish working population

Objectives Prevention of disability in all its forms is a major public health challenge and promoting a healthy lifestyle with sufficient physical activity (PA) may be a way forward. In contrast to long-term deprivation of usual activities, usually linked to critical injuries or conditions, little is known about shorter periods of those limitations in working populations. Equipment and methods We used data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2017 (n = 9,885 ≥17 years; 47.4% women). Workers self-reported usual activity limitation due to health problems (AL) (≤ 14 days) whereas the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form was used to measure PA. After calculating MET-minutes/week, workers were divided into two categories: 1) Less than 600 MET-minutes/week. 2). At least 600 MET-minutes/week. We conducted a multivariable logistic regression to assess associations. Covariates were age, sex, education, occupation, smoking habits, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, neck pain, low back pain, chronic depression, and anxiety. Results The overall prevalence of AL was 10.7%, whereas the overall prevalence of workers performing less than 600 MET-minutes/week of PA was 29.6%. In final adjusted models, those workers performing less than 600 MET-minutes/week of PA subgroup were associated with significantly higher odds for AL (OR 1.33, 95%CI 1.15–1.54). This association was strongest in workers aged 37-43 (OR 1.75, 95%CI 1.27–2.41), and 53–69 years (OR 1.67, 95%CI 1.22–2.28). Conclusions The results suggest that reaching ≥600 MET-minutes/week of PA is associated with lower odds of AL among a general working population, especially among specific age ranges.