title: Perceived exertion at work in women with fibromyalgia: explanatory factors and comparison with healthy women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate perceived exertion at work in women with fibromyalgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A controlled cross-sectional multi-centre study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-three women with fibromyalgia and 73 healthy women matched by occupation and physical workload were compared in terms of perceived exertion at work (0-14), muscle strength, 6-min walk test, symptoms rated by Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), work status (25-100%), fear avoidance work beliefs (0-42), physical activity at work (7-21) and physical workload (1-5). Spearman's correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perceived exertion at work was significantly higher in the fibromyalgia group than in the reference group (p = 0.002), while physical activity at work did not differ between the groups. Physical capacity was lower and symptom severity higher in fibromyalgia compared with references (p < 0.05). In fibromyalgia, perceived exertion at work showed moderate correlation with physical activity at work, physical workload and fear avoidance work beliefs (rs = 0.53-0.65, p < 0.001) and a fair correlation with anxiety (rs = 0.26, p = 0.027). Regression analysis indicated that the physical activity at work and fear avoidance work beliefs explained 50% of the perceived exertion at work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with fibromyalgia perceive an elevated exertion at work, which is associated with physical work-related factors and factors related to fear and anxiety.
authors: Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden. annie.palstam@gu.se.
authors: Annie
authors: A
authors: Palstam
authors: Anette
authors: A
authors: Larsson
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Bjersing
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Löfgren
authors: Malin
authors: M
authors: Ernberg
authors: Indre
authors: I
authors: Bileviciute-Ljungar
authors: Bijar
authors: B
authors: Ghafouri
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Sjörs
authors: Britt
authors: B
authors: Larsson
authors: Björn
authors: B
authors: Gerdle
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Kosek
authors: Kaisa
authors: K
authors: Mannerkorpi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult