Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
05:59
Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
7.1K
Sedentary Time, Light Physical Activity Intensity, and Pain Severity: Findings From the Ghana Study on Aging
Razak M Gyasi1, Simon Boateng2, Barnabas Addai Amanfo3
1Aging and Development Unit, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya; National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia; Department Educational Leadership, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi, Ghana.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
|November 13, 2025
Summary
Sedentary behavior (SB) is linked to increased pain in older adults, while light physical activity (LPA) is associated with reduced pain. Psychosomatic complaints may explain this connection.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Pain Management
Background:
- Older adults experience significant pain, impacting quality of life.
- Sedentary behavior (SB) and light physical activity (LPA) are key lifestyle factors in aging.
- Understanding the relationship between SB, LPA, and pain is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between sedentary behavior (SB) and light physical activity (LPA) with pain in older adults.
- To explore the mediating role of psychosomatic complaints in the relationship between SB and pain.
Main Methods:
- Population-based study of 1201 adults aged 50+ in Ghana.
- Assessed SB and LPA using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.
- Measured pain severity and psychosomatic complaints; analyzed associations using logistic regression and bootstrapping.
Main Results:
- Higher SB (≥8 h/d) was positively associated with pain (OR=2.42).
- LPA was associated with lower odds of pain (OR=0.89).
- Psychosomatic complaints (e.g., anxiety, depression, poor self-rated health) mediated the SB-pain link.
Conclusions:
- Sedentary behavior and light physical activity are significantly associated with pain in older adults.
- Psychosomatic complaints are potential mediators linking sedentary behavior to pain.
- Interventions should encourage shifting from SB to LPA and address psychosomatic issues in older adults.
Related Concept Videos
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
01:22Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption
As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
01:26Aging
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
01:11Alterations in Muscle Tone lll
Rigidity and myotonia are distinct abnormalities of muscle tone that affect resistance and relaxation during movement. Although both involve altered muscle contraction, they arise from different neurological and muscular mechanisms.CharacteristicsRigidity is characterized by uniform resistance to passive movement across the entire range, independent of speed, affecting flexors and extensors equally. It may appear as lead-pipe rigidity (smooth, constant resistance) or cogwheel rigidity...