Physical Fitness and the Level of Pain Intensity in Adolescents: A School-based Study

Martin Zvonar, Mario Kasović and Lovro Štefan
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Martin Zvonar: Faculty of Sport Studies, Masaryk University, 62 500 Brno, Czech Republic
Mario Kasović: Faculty of Sport Studies, Masaryk University, 62 500 Brno, Czech Republic
Lovro Štefan: Department of General and Applied Kinesiology, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-8

Abstract: Background : The main aim of the study was to explore the association between objectively measured physical fitness and the level of pain intensity. Methods : In this cross-sectional study, we included 1036 adolescents (m age ± SD = 16.3 ± 1.1 years; m height ± SD = 1.74 ± 0.1 m; m weight ± SD = 64.7 ± 12.4 kg; m body-mass index ± SD = 21.3 ± 3.0 kg/m 2 ) from 11 secondary schools located in the city of Zagreb (Croatia). Physical fitness was determined by using waist circumference, sit-ups in 1 min, standing long jump and sit-and-reach tests. Overall physical fitness index was calculated by summing the z -score values of each physical fitness test. The level of pain intensity was assessed with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, a one-dimensional measure of pain intensity. Associations were calculated with correlation analyses. Results : In boys, pain intensity was associated with sit-ups in 1 min ( r = −0.16, p < 0.001), standing long jump ( r = −0.14, p = 0.003) and overall physical fitness index ( r = −0.13, p = 0.004), while no significant associations with waist circumference ( r = 0.04, p = 0.438) and sit-and-reach test ( r = −0.01, p = 0.822) were observed. In girls, pain intensity was associated with standing long jump ( r = −0.17, p < 0.001) and overall physical fitness index ( r = −0.10, p = 0.018), while no significant associations with waist circumference ( r = 0.01, p = 0.735), sit-ups in 1 min ( r = −0.06, p = 0.126) and sit-and-reach test ( r = −0.05, p = 0.232) were observed. When we adjusted for self-rated health, sleep duration, smoking status, alcohol consumption, screen-time and psychological distress, similar associations remained. Conclusions : Our study shows a weak association between physical fitness and pain intensity in a large sample of adolescents. Although a cross-sectional design, health-professionals should use physical fitness as a screening tool to assess the level of pain intensity.

Keywords: secondary-school students; fitness; pain; associations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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