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International Journal of Physiotherapy and Allied Health SciencesIJPAHS · Published by Avyakt Pharma · www.ijpahs.com
Original Research · Volume 1, Issue 1 (2026)

Domain-Specific Physical Activity and Its Association with Health-Related Physical Fitness Among Working Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Riddhi R Matolia, Vanshita Patel, Pooja Kadam, Henny Prajapati, Hasti Vanani, Gauri Patel

Shrimad Rajchandra College of Physiotherapy, Uka Tarsadia University, Bardoli, Surat, Gujarat, India

Corresponding author: Riddhi R Matolia — riddhimatolia6@gmail.com (ORCID 0000-0002-9612-0976)

Vol. 1 · Issue 1 · Pages 2–12Published: 18 July 2026Open Access · CC BY 4.0

Abstract

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) confers wide-ranging health benefits, yet a substantial proportion of the population remains insufficiently active. PA performed in different domains; occupational, leisure-time and sports may relate differently to health, and domain-specific associations with physical fitness remain poorly characterised in working women. Objective: To assess domain-specific physical activity levels and their association with health-related physical fitness among working women. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 50 working women (20–40 years) from in and around Surat, India, recruited by convenient sampling. Domain-specific PA (work, sport, leisure) was assessed using the Baecke Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire. Health-related physical fitness was assessed using the Queen's College Step Test (cardiorespiratory fitness/VO₂max), body mass index (BMI), the ACSM curl-up test (abdominal endurance), the modified push-up test (upper-body strength/endurance), the V-sit-and-reach test (flexibility) and the 30-second sit-to-stand test (lowerlimb strength/endurance). Associations between PA domains and fitness categories were analysed using Pearson's chi-square test (IBM SPSS v.20); p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Mean age was 32.04±6.04 years, mean BMI was 24.05±4.89 kg/m², and mean VO₂max was 42.57±6.55 ml/kg/min. Poor work-related, leisure-time, and sports PA were reported by 68%, 72%, and 84% of participants, respectively. Neither work-related nor leisure-time PA was significantly associated with any fitness component (all p>0.05). Sports PA was significantly associated with the push-up test (p=0.010) and the curl-up test (p=0.027), with poor sports PA corresponding predominantly to poor performance on both tests; no other significant associations were found. Conclusion: Domain-specific physical activity showed limited association with health-related physical fitness in working women, with the exception of sports PA, which was significantly associated with upper-body and abdominal muscular endurance. Encouraging even small amounts of sports-related activity may help improve muscular fitness in this population.

Keywords

physical activity domains; physical fitness; working women; occupational health;

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