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

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Fear of movement or kinesiophobia is a health problem related to an irrational fear of physical movement and fatigue that can lead to a limitation of functional capacity and a decrease in daily physical activity. Thus, the purpose of this study was to test the level of kinesiophobia in people with multiple sclerosis and compare it with a group of healthy people. The findings of this research support evidence that kinesiophobia is higher in people with multiple sclerosis than in a healthy control group. Therefore, people with multiple sclerosis should be evaluated and monitored to plan the treatment and preventive care activities of a multidisciplinary health team (podiatrists, physiotherapists, nurses, physicians, occupational therapists) in the attempt to improve their quality of life, autonomy, and wellbeing. ABSTRACT: 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.