Physical activity restriction in the pandemic is associated with lower pain self-efficacy in the population with musculoskeletal pain: cross-sectional study

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a lower level of physical activity was observed in the population, which may influence the level of pain self-efficacy in the population with musculoskeletal pain. In this context, this study sought to analyze whether there is an association between the time of physical activity practice and the level of pain self-efficacy in the population with pain during the COVID-19 pandemic in the state of São Paulo, controlled by biopsychosocial variables. This study was conducted via an online form with questions about sociodemographic aspects, weekly physical activity practice, stress and anxiety levels, pain intensity and pain self-efficacy (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire - PSEQ-10). The analysis was determined by two models of multiple linear regression, with (Model A) and without (Model B) the control of data by psycho-emotional factors (anxiety and stress) in 150 subjects. An association was found between weekly physical activity practice time and pain self-efficacy level, Model A (p=0.0271, β=1.914) and Model B (p=0.0333, β=1.826). Pain intensity during the pandemic, body mass index (BMI) and sex, among the control variables, also were associated with the pain self-efficacy level. A higher time of physical activity practice was associated with a higher pain self-efficacy level in the population with musculoskeletal pain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pain intensity during the pandemic, BMI and sex also were associated with pain self-efficacy level.