title: Barriers and Facilitators for Being Physically Active in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Cross-sectional Comparative Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of the present study were to explore the barriers and facilitators for being physically active and the perceived health benefits of physical activity in a group of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and to compare the findings with those in population controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 148 patients and 133 controls were included in a cross-sectional study. Barriers, facilitators and perceived health benefits were registered in a structured interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were significantly more likely to report barriers to being physically active compared with controls (78% versus 58%; p ≤ 0.001). The barriers most frequently reported by patients were pain (48%), stiffness (36%), fatigue (30%) and disability (21%). A similar proportion of patients (62%) and controls (61%) reported that they had the potential to become more physically active (p = 0.12). Time and motivation were the most frequently reported facilitators in both groups. Patients also reported stable disease (15%) and individually adapted physical activity (8%) as facilitators. An equal proportion of patients (96%) and controls (96%) reported that physical activity had a positive effect on their health (p = 0.94). Improved fitness and increased vitality were the most frequently reported health benefits in both groups. Patients also reported greater disease stability (37%) and reduced pain (33%) as benefits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A larger proportion of patients than controls reported barriers to being physically active. In addition to regular barriers, facilitators and health benefits, patients reported that disease-related factors influenced their participation in physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fongen
authors.affiliation: Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.|University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Silje Halvorsen
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sveaas
authors.affiliation: Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.|University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dagfinrud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009664:Norway; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Ankylosing spondylitis; barriers; facilitators; physical activity