Differences in daily objective physical activity and sedentary time between women with self-reported fibromyalgia and controls: results from the Canadian health measures survey

Physical activity and sedentary behaviors are important modifiable factors that influence health and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia. The purpose of this study was to compare objectively assessed physical activity and sedentary time in women self-reporting fibromyalgia with a control group. Data were drawn from the Canadian Health Measures Survey cycles 1, 2, and 3 conducted by Statistics Canada. We included women aged 18 to 79 years with complete accelerometer data. We performed one-way analyses of covariance (adjusted-for socio-demographic and health factors) to determine mean differences in physical activity and sedentary variables (minutes per day of moderate and vigorous physical activity, light physical activity, sedentary and daily steps) between women with and without fibromyalgia. In total, 4132 participants were included. A cross-sectional weighted analysis indicated that 3.1% of participants self-reported a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Participants with fibromyalgia spent less time than controls engaged in moderate and vigorous physical activity (M = 19.2 min/day (SE = 0.7) versus M = 9.1 min/day (SE = 1.2), p = 0.03, η² = 0.01). No significant differences were found for daily time spent in light physical activity, sedentary activities, and number of steps. Women participants with self-reported fibromyalgia spent significantly less time in moderate and vigorous physical activity than control. Physical activity promotion interventions for women with self-reported fibromyalgia should, as a priority, target physical activities with moderate to vigorous intensity.