Association between physical activity and work ability: a cross-sectional population study 2022

Background: Maintaining good work ability is important for both individuals and the economy.

Purpose: To examine association between recommended levels of physical activity and work ability among Finnish adult population.

Methods: In a national Healthy Finland 2022 survey, population representative sample (N= 61 600, response rate 46 %) of adults (20-99-year-olds) reported weekly amount of moderate- and vigorous aerobic physical activity (work, leisure-time and commuting), and frequency of muscle-strengthening activity. Physical activity was classified into five groups based on physical activity recommendations. Perceived work ability was dichotomized into limited and good. Age, gender, marital status, education, smoking, alcohol use, limiting longstanding illness and BMI were included as confounders. Those retired due to disability were excluded from the analyses (n=665). The analytical sample included under 75-year-old participants (n=16 373). SPSS 29 were used for the logistic regression analyzes.

Results: In total, 19.1% had limited work ability. 8% had no physical activity, 16% had activity below recommendations, 11% had muscle-strengthening activity at least twice a week, 21% had recommended level of aerobic activity and 43% had fully recommended activity level. Compared with those meeting the physical activity recommendations, those meeting only the aerobic recommendation (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.18-1.69) had higher likelihood of limited work ability as well as those meeting only the muscle-strengthening recommendation (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.62-2.38) and those with activity below the recommendations (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.38-1.99) and those with no physical activity (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.86-3.25) when adjusting for confounders.

Conclusions: Lower than recommended levels of physical activity associated with a higher likelihood of limited work ability.

Practical implications: Promoting physical activity may prove useful in maintaining population work ability.

Support/Funding Source: Juho Vainio Foundation