Barriers to Exercise Participation in Individuals with Fibromyalgia in a Workplace Setting

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Rheumatology
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Regular exercise enhances pain, fatigue, and function in fibromyalgia (FM) patients.
• Adherence to exercise is notably low among employed adults with FM.
• Understanding exercise barriers in this population is crucial for improving adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate symptom and workplace-related factors associated with exercise participation in employees diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
• To compare exercise patterns between employees with and without fibromyalgia.
• To identify specific barriers to regular exercise among employed adults with FM.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional workplace survey was administered to 1044 employees across nine large organizations.
• Participants reported FM diagnosis, exercise frequency, perceived barriers, sleep duration, and job stress.
• Statistical comparisons were made between employees with and without FM, and within the FM group.

Main Results:

• Fibromyalgia patients (4.0%) reported higher pain, fatigue, stress, and poorer sleep than non-FM employees.
• Regular exercise rates were similar between FM (40.5%) and non-FM (36.8%) employees.
• Within the FM group, symptom severity did not differentiate exercisers from non-exercisers; sleep, fatigue, and work demands were key barriers.

Conclusions:

• Symptom severity alone is not a primary determinant of exercise participation in employed adults with fibromyalgia.
• Modifiable workplace and environmental factors are significant barriers to sustained physical activity in this population.
• Occupationally tailored strategies are needed to promote exercise adherence among employed adults with FM.