Research project

Interoception and physical activity engagement amongst people with axial spondyloarthritis including ankylosing spondylitis

Lucid-Borders Artists Talk, Daniel Greenfield's A IS FOR EXILE, four dismembered plaster hands with maps of UK locations painted on them.jpg

Research overview

Interoceptive awareness is a complex multi-dimensional construct (Mehling 2012) and it involves an attentional focus on and awareness of internal body sensations (Mehling 2009), requiring the interplay between perceptual body states and cognitive appraisal of those body states (Farb, 2015).

There is evidence of a dynamic relationship between physical activity and interoception, whereby interoceptive processes help regulate exertion during physical activity, and in turn physical activity supports the processing of internal bodily signals (Wallman-Jones; 2021). Nevertheless, most of this data come from studies on healthy population.

Introduction

Patients with inflammatory arthritis, including axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), are more prone to physical inactivity than the general population. One-third to one-half of axSpA patients do not meet the recommended level of physical activity [Liu, Arthritis Rheum. 2020].

In AxSpA, increased physical activity leads to improved physical function and reduced fatigue and disease-related activity [Regnaux, Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019; Ortolan, Ann Rheum Dis 2023]. Thus, physical activity is a key component of clinical practice guidelines for the management of axSpA patients [Ramiro, Ann Rheum Dis 2022].

Understanding the relationship between interoception awareness and levels of physical activity in patients with axSpA could offer an insight on the use of further interception interventions (i.e., mind-body interventions) to increase engagement with physical activity.

Researchers

Professor Sheina Orbell

Researcher

Department of Psychology, University of Essex

Dr Megan Klabunde

Researcher

Department of Psychology, University of Essex

Dr Tania Gudu

Consultant Rheumatologist

ESNEFT

Dr Tania Gudu PhD is a Consultant Rheumatologist at ESNEFT who works one day a week at EEPRU collaborating with psychology staff on projects relating to arthritis and chronic pain.