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Association of Self-Reported Aerobic Physical Activity, Muscle-Strengthening Physical Activity, and Stretching
Timothy J Walker1, Jessica M Tullar, Pamela M Diamond
1University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Houston, Texas (Drs Walker, Diamond); The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, Houston, Texas (Dr Tullar); The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, Austin, Texas (Dr Kohl III); The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, Austin, Texas (Dr Kohl III); Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Department of Health Policy and Management, Florida International University, Miami, Florida (Dr Amick III); and Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Dr Amick III).
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate relations between aerobic physical activity (PA), muscle-strengthening PA, and stretching behavior and presenteeism in university employees.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study used health assessment data from two employee respondent groups (n2015 = 10,791 and n2009 = 10,165). Multivariable zero-inflated negative binomial regression models assessed the association between self-reported PA types and presenteeism.
Results:
There was consistent evidence that employees who reported participating in sufficient aerobic PA had higher odds for no work limitations [odds ratio (OR2015) = 1.45, P < 0.001; OR2009 = 1.55, P < 0.001] and lower levels of work limitations [incidence rate ratio (IRR)2015 = 0.92, P < 0.05; IRR2009 = 0.83, P < 0.001] than employees who reported participating in no activity. There was some evidence of an inverse association between muscle-strengthening PA and work limitations, but no evidence between stretching behavior and work limitations.
Conclusions:
Promoting PA among employees is a key health behavior to target for worksites concerned about presenteeism.