Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between objectively measured physical activity and perceived work ability and musculoskeletal disorders among adult, middle-aged, and older women. Patients and methods: This study used a cross-sectional design with a convenience sample of 348 women divided into 3 age groups: 30–49 years (n=111), 50–65 years (n=120), 66–75 years (n=117). Weekly physical activity was monitored using tri-axial accelerometer ActiGraph Gt3X. Perceived work ability was assessed using the standardized Work Ability Index (WAI) questionnaire. Information about the occurrence and intensity of musculoskeletal disorders was collected using standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) expanded by visual analog pain intensity scale (VAS). Results: Regardless of age, women who met physical activity recommendations achieved higher scores in each part of the WAI, and also in the total WAI scores. However, the most significant differences were found in women aged 50–64 years, and included the following items: subjective work ability, work ability in relation to demands, work impairments, sick leave in the past year. Total WAI scores were also significantly higher in women aged 30–49 and 50–64 years who met PA recommendations in comparison to women who did not meet recommendations. Also, significant relations between the frequency of occurrence of musculoskeletal problems and meeting physical activity recommendations were found in women aged 50–64 years. Those who were more physically active reported less musculoskeletal problems in shoulders (p=0.006) and ankles/feet (p=0.018) regions. Conclusion: Adherence to Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health disseminated by WHO is related to better-perceived work ability among adult (30–49 years) and middle-aged (50–64 years) women. There is also a relationship between adherence to recommendations of physical activity and frequency and intensity of musculoskeletal pain among middle-aged women.

Wstęp: Środowisko medyczne dostrzega rolę aktywności fizycznej (AF) w profilaktyce i leczeniu chorób cywilizacyjnych. Mimo jednak bogatej i dobrze udokumentowanej wiedzy o zdrowotnych aspektach AF pilną potrzebą jest diagnoza i ocena poziomu AF w różnych grupach społecznych i...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the intensity of health behaviors and health-related quality of life in female mid-level medical staff. The study group consisted of 153 female mid-level medical staff members. The intensity of health behaviors was examined with the Polish version of Health Behavior Inventory. Health-related quality of life was verified with the Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF 36v2). Among the participants, 33% had low, 39% average, and 28% high intensity of health behaviors. The mental component of health-related quality of life was rated higher (83.3 ± 15.3 points) compared to the physical one. The lowest health-related quality of life was observed in the domain of “bodily pain”, while the highest was found for the domain of “social functioning”. Both the physical and mental components of health-related quality of life were significantly positively correlated with health behavior prevalence in all its categories. The post-hoc tests revealed the variation in physical and mental components of HRQoL according to the level of health behavior intensity.

This study aimed to compare subjective and objective measures of physical activity (PA) in healthcare professionals and assess their adherence to recommended guidelines. A convenience sample of 153 female healthcare professionals (51 nurses, 50 medical caregivers, and 52 physiotherapists) from 24 h healthcare facilities in Poland participated in the study. Subjective assessment was done using an expanded version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, while objective assessment involved wearing an Actigraph GT3X accelerometer for seven consecutive days. The results showed no significant correlation between subjective and objective measures of moderate-to-vigorous PA in both occupational and non-occupational activities. Objectively measured PA was significantly lower than self-reported PA, with a large effect size observed for both occupational and total PA. Only 44% of participants met the recommended guidelines for aerobic activity based on accelerometer data, while subjective assessment showed a higher percentage (76%) of healthcare professionals meeting the guidelines. These findings highlight the discrepancy between self-reported and objectively measured PA in healthcare professionals. It emphasizes the need for more accurate assessment methods to understand the actual PA levels of this population. Further research should explore factors influencing PA reporting accuracy and develop interventions to promote regular physical activity among healthcare professionals.