Work factors facilitating working beyond state pension age: Prospective cohort study with register follow-up

Objectives: The demographic changes in Europe underline the need for an extension of working lives. This study investigates the importance of physical work demands and psychosocial work factors for working beyond the state pension age (65 years). Methods: We combined data from three cohorts of the general working population in Denmark (DWECS 2005 and 2010, and DANES 2008), where actively employed workers aged 55-59 years replied to questionnaires about work environment and were followed until the age of 66 years in the Danish AMRun register of paid employment. Using logistic regression analyses, we calculated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between physical and psychosocial work factors and working beyond state pension age, adjusted for age, sex, cohort, cohabiting, sector, income, vocational education, working hours, lifestyle, and previous sickness absence. Results: Of the 2884 workers aged 55-59 years, 1023 (35.5%) worked beyond the state pension age. Higher physical work demands was associated with a lower likelihood (PR 0.69, 95% CI 0.58-0.82) and a good psychosocial work environment was associated with higher likelihood (average of 7 items: PR 1.81, 95% CI 1.49-2.20) of working beyond state pension age. Stratified analyses did not change the overall pattern, ie, a good overall psychosocial work environment - as well as several specific psychosocial factors - increased the likelihood of working beyond state pension age, both for those with physically active and seated work. Conclusion: While high physical work demands was a barrier, a good psychosocial work environment seems to facilitate working beyond state pension age, also for those with physically active work

Recreational football training decreases risk factors for bone fractures in untrained premenopausal women

The present intervention was designed to investigate whether a 14-week period of regular recreational association football (F) or endurance running (R) has an effect on the risk of falls and bone fractures due to gains in muscle function and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD). Fifty healthy untrained Danish premenopausal women were randomized into two training groups (F and R) that trained 1.8 +/- 0.3 (+/- SD) and 1.9 +/- 0.3 h/week, respectively, and these groups were compared with an inactive control group (C). Jumping and dynamic muscle strength were tested and tibial vBMD was measured using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Total vBMD in left and right tibia increased by 2.6 +/- 2.3% and 2.1 +/- 1.8% (P < 0.005), respectively, in F and by 0.7 +/- 1.3% (P=0.05) and 1.1 +/- 1.5% (P < 0.01), respectively, in R without any significant changes in C. Similar results were found for trabecular vBMD. In F, peak jump power increased by 3 +/- 6% (P < 0.05), and hamstring strength during fast (240 degrees/s) and slow (30 degrees/s) contractions increased by 11 +/- 25% and 9 +/- 21%, respectively, (P < 0.05) without any significant changes in R or C. In conclusion, 14 weeks of regular recreational football improved peak jump power, maximal hamstring strength and vBMD in the distal tibia, suggesting a decreased fracture risk due to stronger bones and a reduced risk of falling

Higher physical activity is associated with lower activity limitation: Cross-sectional analyses among the Spanish working population

Objectives: Prevention of disability in all its forms is a major public health challenge and promoting a healthy lifestyle with sufficient physical activity (PA) may be a way forward. In contrast to long-term deprivation of usual activities, usually linked to critical injuries or conditions, little is known about shorter periods of those limitations in working populations. Equipment and methods: We used data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2017 (n = 9,885 ≥17 years; 47.4% women). Workers self-reported usual activity limitation due to health problems (AL) (≤ 14 days) whereas the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form was used to measure PA. After calculating MET-minutes/week, workers were divided into two categories: 1) Less than 600 MET-minutes/week. 2). At least 600 MET-minutes/week. We conducted a multivariable logistic regression to assess associations. Covariates were age, sex, education, occupation, smoking habits, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, neck pain, low back pain, chronic depression, and anxiety. Results: The overall prevalence of AL was 10.7%, whereas the overall prevalence of workers performing less than 600 MET-minutes/week of PA was 29.6%. In final adjusted models, those workers performing less than 600 MET-minutes/week of PA subgroup were associated with significantly higher odds for AL (OR 1.33, 95%CI 1.15–1.54). This association was strongest in workers aged 37-43 (OR 1.75, 95%CI 1.27–2.41), and 53–69 years (OR 1.67, 95%CI 1.22–2.28). Conclusions: The results suggest that reaching ≥600 MET-minutes/week of PA is associated with lower odds of AL among a general working population, especially among specific age ranges