Association Between Objectively Measured Physical Activity and the Number of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Sites in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

OBJECTIVE: Physical inactivity is recognized as a pandemic health problem. The association of pain with physical activity, particularly when measured objectively, in older adults is unclear. This study investigates the association of number of chronic musculoskeletal pain sites and pain severity with objectively measured physical activity in community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Community. SUBJECTS: We analyzed 267 community-dwelling older adults (mean age = 75.3 years, 67.0% women). METHODS: Number of chronic musculoskeletal pain sites and pain severity were measured using a self-reported questionnaire. Mean steps per day and mean minutes of light physical activity per day and moderate to vigorous physical activity per day were measured using an accelerometer. Linear regression models were applied to analyze the association of number of chronic musculoskeletal pain sites and pain severity with physical activity. RESULTS: The results suggest that a higher number of chronic musculoskeletal pain sites is associated with lower step count (beta = -333.5, 95% confidence interval = -655.9 to -11.0, P < 0.05) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (beta = -2.5, 95% confidence interval = -4.7 to -0.4, P < 0.05) even after adjustment for age, gender, years of schooling, obesity, alcohol habits, smoking status, number of comorbidities, recent surgery, and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the number of chronic musculoskeletal pain sites is associated with low physical activity in older adults. Therefore, low physical activity due to chronic musculoskeletal pain should not be overlooked.