Abstract
Background: Brisk physical activity may facilitate fecal incontinence due to physical activity-induced colonic motility. However, there currently are no studies that have examined the relationship between fecal incontinence and free-living physical activity behavior.
Aim: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between fecal incontinence and objectively measured physical activity among adults.
Materials and Methods: A national sample of adults in the United States (n = 2565, 20-85 years) completed the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index questionnaire and wore an accelerometer for a week to objectively measure physical activity behavior.
Results: After adjustments, fecal incontinence was positively associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (β = 0.85, P = 0.04), suggesting that lower perceived severity of fecal incontinence was associated with greater engagement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Fecal incontinence was not significantly associated with light-intensity physical activity (P = 0.27).
Conclusion: Our results suggest that adults in the United States with greater perceived severity of fecal incontinence engage in less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; however, those with greater severity of fecal incontinence do not appear to have different levels of light-intensity physical activity behavior. Given the emerging research showing beneficial effects of light-intensity physical activity, health care professionals should encourage light-intensity physical activity to their patients with fecal incontinence.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 575-579 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | North American Journal of Medical Sciences |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1 2014 |
Keywords
- Bowel health
- Epidemiology
- Exercise
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)