Kinesiophobia in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Relationship withquadriceps muscle strength, fear of falling, functional status,disease activity, and quality of life

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to determine the frequency of kinesiophobia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to evaluate the relation ofkinesiophobia with the knee range of motion (ROM), quadriceps muscle strength, fear of falling, functional status, disease activity, depression, andquality of life. Patients and methods: Between September 2018 and September 2019, a total of 100 RA patients (25 males, 75 females; mean age: 56.1±9.3 years;range, 32 to 69 years) and 50 healthy controls (14 males, 36 females; mean age: 54.6±9.8 years; range, 30 to 69 years) were included. Disease activitywas evaluated using the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), and functional status using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Pain severity wasmeasured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS) was used to evaluate kinesiophobia. Quadriceps muscle strengthand knee ROM measurements of two extremities were recorded. Depression was evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), fear of fallingby Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) and quality of life using the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Results: The rate of kinesiophobia was 70% in RA patients and 12% in controls, indicating a higher rate in RA patients, compared to controls (oddsratio [OR] = 44.861, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 42.571-49.052; p