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Barriers and Facilitators for Being Physically Active in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Cross‐sectional Comparative Study
Author(s) -
Fongen Camilla,
Sveaas Silje Halvorsen,
Dagfinrud Hanne
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
musculoskeletal care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1557-0681
pISSN - 1478-2189
DOI - 10.1002/msc.1088
Subject(s) - medicine , ankylosing spondylitis , vitality , cross sectional study , physical therapy , population , physical activity , disease , environmental health , philosophy , theology , pathology
Objectives The aims of the present study were to explore the barriers and facilitators for being physically active and the perceived health benefits of physical activity in a group of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and to compare the findings with those in population controls. Methods A total of 148 patients and 133 controls were included in a cross‐sectional study. Barriers, facilitators and perceived health benefits were registered in a structured interview. Results Patients were significantly more likely to report barriers to being physically active compared with controls (78% versus 58%; p ≤ 0.001). The barriers most frequently reported by patients were pain (48%), stiffness (36%), fatigue (30%) and disability (21%). A similar proportion of patients (62%) and controls (61%) reported that they had the potential to become more physically active ( p = 0.12). Time and motivation were the most frequently reported facilitators in both groups. Patients also reported stable disease (15%) and individually adapted physical activity (8%) as facilitators. An equal proportion of patients (96%) and controls (96%) reported that physical activity had a positive effect on their health ( p = 0.94). Improved fitness and increased vitality were the most frequently reported health benefits in both groups. Patients also reported greater disease stability (37%) and reduced pain (33%) as benefits. Conclusions A larger proportion of patients than controls reported barriers to being physically active. In addition to regular barriers, facilitators and health benefits, patients reported that disease‐related factors influenced their participation in physical activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.