Article

Physical exercise recommendations become particularly effective when
embedded into medical rehabilitation. However, little is known about long-term
behaviour maintenance and its effect on sickness absence and subjective
employability. The current longitudinal observational study investigated
self-reported physical exercise, sickness absence and subjective employability
over a period of 8 years. SUBJECTS: A total of 601 (T0) outpatients (mean age
45.14 years; standard deviation 10.73 years, age range 18-65 years) with
different orthopaedic disorders were recruited during their 3-week medical
rehabilitation in Germany. Of these, 61.7% (n = 371) were female. Follow-ups were
carried out at 6 months (T1, n = 495), 12 months (T2, n = 340), 3 years (T3, n =
296) and 8 years (T4, n = 142) after baseline. METHODS: Patient characteristics,
exercise status, social-cognitive variables, sickness absence and subjective
employability were obtained via self-report questionnaires. SPSS hierarchical
regression models were used for data analysis, controlling for baseline measures
and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Physical exercise status 6 months after
rehabilitation treatment (T1) predicted sickness absence at 12 months (T2).
Inactive people were 3.28 times more likely to be on sick leave at T2. In
addition, physical exercise at T1 predicted subjective employability 12 months
(T2) and 3 years (T3) later. Those who met the recommendations to be physically
active for at least 40 min a week were more likely to feel able to work.
CONCLUSION: Exercise appears to play an important role in reducing sickness
absence and subjective employability and should be promoted within and after
rehabilitation treatment.

Langue : ANGLAIS