Physical Activity in Women with Endometriosis: Less or More Compared with a Healthy Control?
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BORIS DOI
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
37681799
Description
BACKGROUND
Endometriosis, i.e., endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting physical functioning. However, the specific levels of physical activity (PA) in the context of endometriosis and different disease symptoms remain unclear.
METHODS
This multi-center, cross-sectional study compared PA levels and influencing factors in endometriosis patients and non-endometriosis patients. Data were collected through questionnaires. Endometriosis was surgically confirmed. A statistical analysis was performed with appropriate tests.
RESULTS
The study included 460 women with endometriosis and 460 age-matched women without this condition. The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of age, education level, or stable partnership. Women with endometriosis exhibited lower PA levels, practicing fewer hours of sports weekly and climbing fewer stairs daily compared to the control group. These differences remained significant after controlling for confounding factors. Factors such as endometriosis, current dysmenorrhea, and depression were associated with decreased PA.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that women with endometriosis engage in less PA compared to those without this condition. These results highlight the need for interventions to promote increased PA in endometriosis patients and harness the associated health benefits. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and develop tailored exercise therapies for this population.
Endometriosis, i.e., endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting physical functioning. However, the specific levels of physical activity (PA) in the context of endometriosis and different disease symptoms remain unclear.
METHODS
This multi-center, cross-sectional study compared PA levels and influencing factors in endometriosis patients and non-endometriosis patients. Data were collected through questionnaires. Endometriosis was surgically confirmed. A statistical analysis was performed with appropriate tests.
RESULTS
The study included 460 women with endometriosis and 460 age-matched women without this condition. The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of age, education level, or stable partnership. Women with endometriosis exhibited lower PA levels, practicing fewer hours of sports weekly and climbing fewer stairs daily compared to the control group. These differences remained significant after controlling for confounding factors. Factors such as endometriosis, current dysmenorrhea, and depression were associated with decreased PA.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that women with endometriosis engage in less PA compared to those without this condition. These results highlight the need for interventions to promote increased PA in endometriosis patients and harness the associated health benefits. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and develop tailored exercise therapies for this population.
Date of Publication
2023-08-26
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Keyword(s)
endometriosis exercise physical activity
Language(s)
en
Contributor(s)
Sachs, Maike Katja | |
El-Hadad, Samia | |
Haufe, Annika | |
Rueff, Dalia | |
Kohl Schwartz, Alexandra Sabrina | |
Haeberlin, Felix | |
von Orelli, Stephanie | |
Eberhard, Markus | |
Leeners, Brigitte |
Additional Credits
Series
International journal of environmental research and public health
Publisher
MDPI
ISSN
1660-4601
Access(Rights)
open.access