Is active commuting associated with sedentary behaviour and physical activity in women with fibromyalgia? The al-Ándalus project

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the association between active commuting and sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) in women with fibromyalgia.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study included 420 women with fibromyalgia (aged 30 to 74 years old) from Spain. The participants wore an accelerometer during seven days to record ST and PA. They also self-reported patterns of active commuting. Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between commuting and accelerometer outcomes. Age, pressure pain threshold, and accelerometer wear time were used as confounders.

Results

There was a negative association between active commuting and ST whereas active commuting was positively associated with moderate PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA, total PA, and step count (all p ≤ 0.01). No associations were observed in the older group.

Conclusion

Younger women with fibromyalgia who were active commuters spent less ST and were involved in greater PA than passive commuters. This study highlights the importance of promoting active commuting to increase PA among young women with fibromyalgia, while other sources of PA might be recommended for older patients if levels of active commuting are not increased.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Active commuting is a source to increase PA in women with fibromyalgia.

• Active commuting alone does not seem to be enough to increase PA levels in older women with fibromyalgia and additional PA strategies should be implemented.

• Promotion of active commuting in young women with fibromyalgia is recommended.

Keywords:

• Chronic disease
• exercise
• female
• fibromyalgia
• pain
• transport

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the effort and collaboration of the members of the Andalusian Federation of people with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and multiple chemical sensitivity (Alba Andalucía). We would also like to thank Ms Carmen Sainz-Quinn for assistance with the English language. This study is part of a PhD thesis of the Biomedicine program of the University of Granada.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [I + D + I DEP2010-15639; I + D + I DEP 2013-40908-R; grant number BES-2014-067612], the Spanish Council for Tourism, Commerce, and Sport [CTCD-201000019242-TRA] and the [grant number FPU13/01088]. The study was partially supported by the University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigación 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES), and by the Junta de Andalucía, Consejeria de Conocimiento, Investigación y Universidades and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) [SOMM17/6107/UGR].