Effects of Physical Activity on Orthopedic Surgery Resident Quality of Life

Although various factors have been investigated with the goal of improving orthopedic surgery residents' quality of life, there is limited information on the effect of exercise on this population. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of physical activity on the quality of life of orthopedic surgery residents, with the secondary aim of comparing the differing effects of aerobic and resistance training in this population. Additionally, this study sought to examine the relationship between burnout and quality of life, with the goal of identifying potential associations that may inform targeted interventions to support resident well-being.

Sixty-seven orthopedic surgery residents from all postgraduate years were enrolled in this cross-sectional, survey-based quantitative study. Respondents completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS-MP), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Muscle-Strengthening Exercise Questionnaire (MSEQ) via a secure online platform.

Analysis revealed significant negative correlations between the psychological domain of the WHOQOL-BREF and the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization subscales of the MBI-HSS-MP (r = -0.496, P < .001; r = -0.267, P = .034, respectively). The strongest negative significant correlation was observed between the physical domain of the WHOQOLBREF and emotional exhaustion (r = -0.519, P < .001). Physical activity demonstrated a moderate positive correlation with physical quality of life (r = 0.308, P = .018) and a strong positive correlation with psychological quality of life (r = 0.450, P < .001).

The findings suggest that quality of life and burnout are significantly correlated in the orthopedic resident population. Both aerobic and resistance training showed the greatest association with the psychological domain of quality of life, followed by a notable relationship with the physical domain.