title: Predictors of Reduced Frequency of Physical Activity 3 Months After Injury: Findings From the Prospective Outcomes of Injury Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical inactivity is a risk factor for noncommunicable diseases. Incurring an injury has been identified as a barrier to physical activity. However, it is not known which factors, if any, are associated with reduced activity among general injury populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The 2 study objectives were: (1) to investigate changes in physical activity frequency from before an injury to 3 months after the injury and (2) to examine the association of preinjury, injury-related, and postinjury factors with reduced physical activity frequency in participants with a range of injury types.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N=2,856) who were 18 to 64 years of age were asked about preinjury demographic and health factors, injury-related factors, and postinjury factors. Data were collected through telephone interviewing (88%), a postal questionnaire (11%), and face-to-face interviewing (0.5%) 3 months after the injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2,793 participants for whom complete physical activity data were available, 55% (n=1,536) had reduced physical activity 3 months after the injury event. Preinjury and injury-related factors associated with a greater risk of reduced physical activity included living with non-family members; a lower extremity dislocation, sprain, or strain; and an injury with greater anatomical severity. Postinjury factors associated with reduced physical activity included greater disability, pain or discomfort, poor general health, not having returned to work, and having a worse-than-expected recovery 3 months after the injury. A large proportion (61%) of this cohort with injuries was seen by physical therapists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data collection was retrospective and based on participant recall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large proportion of participants had reduced physical activity 3 months after the injury. Knowledge about preinjury, injury-related, and postinjury characteristics associated with reduced physical activity may help health care professionals identify people at risk of not returning to their preinjury physical activity frequency.
authors.affiliation: H. Harcombe, PhD, Injury Prevention Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. helen.harcombe@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harcombe
authors.affiliation: A. Samaranayaka, PhD, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samaranayaka
authors.affiliation: S. Derrett, PhD, Injury Prevention Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Derrett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult