Regular physical activity is associated with lower odds of bodily pain in midlife women

To evaluate the association between regular physical activity and bodily pain domain of the SF-36 in midlife women, considering pharmacological and physical factors.

This cross-sectional study included 3,523 women aged 40 to 60 years. Participants reported whether they had generalized body pain, physical activity, menopause status, menopause hormone therapy (MHT) use, psychotropic medication use, and comorbidities. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of bodily pain.

Women reporting regular physical activity (n=1806; 56.3%) had 34% lower odds of bodily pain (OR 0.66; 95% CI: 0.58-0.76), independent of BMI, menopause status, psychotropic drug use, and comorbidities. MHT use showed an even stronger association (OR 0.50; 95% CI: 0.41-0.61). Conversely, obesity (OR 1.61; 95% CI: 1.36-1.92), postmenopause status (OR 1.45; 95% CI: 1.26-1.68), psychotropic drug use (OR 1.45; 95% CI: 1.24-1.70), and comorbidities (OR 1.52; 95% CI: 1.31-1.77) were associated with increased pain risk.

Regular physical activity is independently associated with lower odds of bodily pain in midlife women. Exercise programs, in combination with MHT, may contribute to optimizing pain management in this population and warrant further prospective investigation.