Investigation of the relationship between depression, postural control, pain, affected si̇de and kinesiophobia in stroke patients

Objective: This study was planned to investigate the relationship between depression, postural control, pain, affected side and kinesiophobia in stroke patients. Material and Method: Thirty patients aged between 25-70 years who had a stroke at the earliest 6 months and who Functional Ambulation Scale were level 2 and above according to the were included in the study. Patients were selected by random sampling method from the relevant population. Demographic data were obtained from all subjects who met the inclusion criteria. Patiens were evaluated Kinesiophobia scores (Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKÖ) and VAS-Kinesiophobia Assessment), depression severity (Beck Depression Inventory), postural control loss (PASS) and pain severity (VAS). Results: In our study, a moderate positive correlation was found between TKS and Beck Depression Inventory (r: 0.368, p<0.045) and a high positive correlation was found between TKS and pain-VAS (r: 0.719, p <0.05). Furthermore a moderate negative correlation was found between VAS- kinesiophobia and PASS (r: -0.662, p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups of patients with and without pain in terms of VAS-Kinesiophobia Assessment (p> 0.05), but the difference between the groups was significant in terms of TKS. No relationship was found between the affected side and kinesiophobia (p <0.05). Conclusion: As a result of this study, two different kinesiophobia evaluations were used, kinesiophobia according to the TKS in associated with pain and depression severity; according to VAS-kinesiophobia assessment in associated with postural control. However, it was found that kinesiophobia was not associated with the affected side. Kinesiophobia is a versatile parameter. Many underlying problems can cause kinesiophobia. As it can be understood from the items of the TKS, it can be considered that it measures kinesophobia mostly based on pain and it is insufficient to evaluate kinesophobia caused by problems such as postural control problems. Therefore, there is a need to develop more specific scales to measure kinesiophobia in stroke patients. We think that the presence of kinesiophobia in stroke patients and the identification of the underlying problem that may cause kinesiophobia may positively affect the treatment process. Key Words: Depression, hemiplegia, kinesiophobia, pain, postural control