Evaluation of the existence of kinesiophobia in patients with multiple sclerosis; effect of kinesiophobia on physical activity, functional status, quality of life and depression

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of kinesiophobia in MS patients and to investigate the effect of kinesiophobia on physical activity, functional status, quality of life and depression. Ninety people, including forty-five patients and forty-five healthy control groups, were included in the study. Demographic data of all participants were recorded. Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Quality of Life Scale Short Form-36 (SF-36), International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Functional Ambulation Classification (FAS), in addition to Multiple Sclerosis group, Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) were implemented. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of the presence of kinesiophobia and the distribution of the score. The incidence and severity of kinesophobia was higher in patients compared to controls (p<0.001). There were no statistically significant difference between kinesophobia and gender, BMI, occupation, education level, MS type, tone and FAS classification in patients (p> 0.05). It was observed that married patients had higher kinesophobia levels compared to singles (p <0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between kinesophobia and gender, occupation, marriage and educational status in the control group (p> 0.05). A statistically significant difference was observed between kinesophobia and BMI in controls. It was observed that the higher the BMI, the higher the kinesophobia level (p <0.05). There were no statistically significant correlation between kinesiophobia and duration of illness, IPAQ level and FIM cognitive score in patients (p> 0.05). A statistically significant positive weak correlation was found between kinesiophobia and age, symptom onset age, EDSS score, and BDI score. While a statistically significant negative moderate correlation was found between kinesiophobia and general health perception, a significant negative weak correlation was found between FIM total score, FIM motor score, SF-36 physical component and mental component (p <0.05). There were no statistically significant correlation between kinesophobia and age, BDI score, IPAQ score and SF-36 mental component in the control group (p> 0.05). A statistically significant negative weak correlation was found between kinesophobia and SF-36 physical component (p <0.05). As a result of the multivariate regression analysis performed on all participants in our study; Having MS, high BMI and presence of depression appeared as important risk factors in terms of high kinesophobia levels.