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Abstract
Chronic pain (i.e., pain lasting ≥3 months) is impacting at least 20.9% of U.S. adults (Rikard et al., 2023). This debilitating condition is a leading cause of disability, impairing functioning across life domains, and is linked to depression, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, higher suicide risk, substance use, and misuse (Rikard et al., 2023). Chronic pain is a substantial economic issue, with estimates of $560-635 billion spent in the United States alone due to healthcare utilization costs and loss of productivity (Rikard et al., 2023). Lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity contribute to the risk, severity, and maintenance of chronic pain (Fjeld et al., 2023). Physical activity can be seen as a personal involvement in treating and managing chronic pain, which could lead to greater self-efficacy (Geenen et al., 2017). Yet, research on physical activity level among this population is lacking, and further understanding of factors that impact engagement in physical activity is limited. This study examined physical activity level among a sample of chronic pain patients receiving care in integrated care clinics in Athens, Georgia, and the factors that impact physical activity. Participants were recruited from the parent study, Project INSPIRE (Integrating Neurological Services, Psychological Interventions, Research, and Education). It was hypothesized that 1) a greater number of individuals in this chronic pain sample are not meeting the current World Health Organization Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults with Chronic Conditions; 2) that those who report higher resiliency factors (e.g., psychological (in)flexibility in pain and chronic pain acceptance) would report more time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA); 3) that resiliency factors (e.g., psychological (in)flexibility in pain and chronic pain acceptance) would predict time spent in MVPA above and beyond kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing. Results supported that this sample predominantly did not meet the WHO guidelines for physical activity, and both resiliency factors were related to increased MVPA. However, resiliency factors did not predict MVPA above and beyond kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing.