Kinesiophobia in People with Multiple Sclerosis and Its Relationship with Physical Activity, Pain and Acceptance of Disease

The level of kinesiophobia in breast cancer women undergoing surgical treatment

Introduction

Lifestyle-associated factors like physical activity (PA) play an important role in cancer prevention and oncology treatment outcomes. The aim of the study is to investigate the level of kinesiophobia (fear of movement) in breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing surgical treatment depending on socio-demographic variables, lifestyle before cancer diagnosis, stage and type of BC and comorbidities.

Methods

We interviewed 285 women (132 patients from Greater Poland Cancer Center - age: 55.7 ± 12.4; BMI: 26.7 ± 4.7 and 153 healthy women from control group - age: 49.0 ± 15.7; BMI: 25.7 ± 4.0) using Polish adaptation of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK).

Results

Research results show that women with BC suffer from kinesiophobia (>37 points) signi!cantly. Approximately 3/4 of the surveyed women with BC did not know the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations regarding the weekly dose of PA for healthy people and for people with cancer. Before cancer diagnosis more than a half of women (60%) performed PA in accordance with WHO recommendations. 7% less women performed PA during oncology treatment. Almost a half of patients are not physically active during cancer treatment and 1/5 of the respondents declared that they do not know yet if they will be physically active after oncology treatment. The level of kinesiophobia in BC women with comorbidities was the same as in the group of BC women without comorbidities. However, the highest levels of fear of movement have been observed among women with BC suffering also from osteoporosis, obesity and diabetes. In general, higher levels of kinesiophobia were reported among women in less advanced stages of the disease. There were no differences in the level of kinesiophobia depending on the type of BC (hormonally dependent luminal cancers vs. other types). The level of kinesiophobia did not differ between women who were physically active before BC diagnosis and women who were not. In terms of socio- demographic variables, we found one direct association between the level of kinesiophobia (pain) with age - the greater age, the higher level of pain kinesiophobia.

Discussion

Research on fear of movement in female oncology requires further research (including also chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy) and in order to effectively eliminate hypokinetic attitudes at every stage of cancer treatment.

Kinesiophobia among Breast Cancer Survivors One Year after Hospital Treatment

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most dangerous health problems affecting women. Lifestyle-associated determinants like physical activity (PA) play an important role in BC treatment outcomes. Studies suggest that oncology patients are insufficiently physically active. One of the potential barriers is kinesiophobia-fear of movement due to expected pain and fatigue. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the level of kinesiophobia among women one year after BC hospital treatment depending on socio-demographic variables, stage and type of BC, lifestyle, and comorbidities. Polish women after BC (n = 138, age 46.5 ± 9.2, BMI 24.6 ± 4.0) participated in the study and the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) questionnaire was used in the diagnostic survey. The study results show that women suffer from kinesiophobia after BC. Moreover, every third woman (32.6%) does not practice sport regularly one year after BC treatment. The lifestyle before BC diagnosis impacts the level of kinesiophobia after treatment-women who were not physically active before BC diagnosis declared higher levels than previously active women. The study result shows that a high level of kinesiophobia correlates with a low level of PA among women after BC. Women with obesity and diabetes also declared higher levels of kinesiophobia than women without comorbidities. The type and stage of BC have no influence on the level of kinesiophobia; however, in terms of socio-demographic variables, a direct association between kinesiophobia and age has been found-the greater the age, the higher the level of kinesiophobia. Further research on fear of movement in oncology is required in order to effectively eliminate hypokinetic attitudes in every type of female and male cancer.

Polish Adaptation of the Modified Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia for Fatigue (TSK-F) and the Revision of the Tampa Scale in Terms of Pain for Cancer Patients

The aim of this study was to create a Polish adaptation of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia considering fatigue, and to verify the usefulness of the scale in the context of pain in cancer patients. The study was conducted at the Breast Cancer Unit, operating at the Greater Poland Cancer Centre, and at the Poznan Centre for Specialist Medical Services in Poznan. After considering the exclusion criteria, 100 people qualified for the interviews for the final study: 50 breast cancer patients and 50 healthy respondents (without cancer). Statistical analysis of the CFA score showed that the chi-square test was not significant (χ² = 10.243, p = 0.332), indicating an acceptable fit of items across scales. The reliability of the internal consistency of the scales was tested by examining the Cronbach's alpha scores for each question/statement. The mean values for this indicator were 0.74 for the pain-related scale and 0.84 for the fatigue-related scale. Construct validity was confirmed for the scales; AVE for the pain-related scale was 0.64 and for the fatigue-related scale was 0.68. The results suggest the validity of examining kinesiophobia in the context of pain- and fatigue-related mobility anxiety among breast cancer patients in Poland, and that the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia can be adapted for different dimensions of the condition. Both versions of the scale demonstrated adequately prepared parametric constructs, and all correlations showed a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.05). The use of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia in oncology patient studies in Poland may ultimately improve rehabilitation programs and enable the development of strategies to assist patients in supporting treatment to reduce movement anxiety.

Kinesiophobia Levels in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Case-Control Investigation

Fear of movement or kinesiophobia is an irrational fear of physical movement and fatigue that causes a limitation of functional capacity and decreased physical activity. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the level of kinesiophobia in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and compare it with a group of healthy people, through the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia with 11 items (TSK-11).

METHOD

A total of 116 subjects were recruited in a multicenter case-control study; 58 subjects suffered from MS and 58 were healthy subjects from different associations and the same locality. To assess the levels of fear of movement, the Spanish version of the TSK-11 self-questionnaire was used.

RESULTS

Most pwMS suffer from some degree of kinesiophobia (TSK-11 ≥ 18), and 60.3% had moderate to maximum kinesiophobia scores (TSK-11 ≥ 25). In contrast, healthy subjects presented a percentage of kinesiophobia from none to moderate (82.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Kinesiophobia is higher in pwMS than in the healthy control group. Accordingly, individuals showing pwMS should be assessed and monitored in order to diagnosed initial kinesiophobia levels, to allow planning treatment and preventive care activities that may improve the foot health and overall health in this group of patients.