Investigation of the relationship between physical activity, kinesiophobia and fear of falling in older adults with chronic pain

The investigation of effect on foot plantar massage on functional recovery in older adults with general surgery, randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

Foot massage is known to be effective on the emotional state (anxiety, depression, etc.) in the postoperative period. However, studies on its effect on functional level are insufficient.

AIM

The study aimed to investigate the impact of foot plantar massage on functional recovery in older adults undergoing general surgery, employing a randomized clinical trial design.

METHODS

A total of 70 older adults aged 65 years and above who underwent abdominal surgery were included. Various assessments were conducted, including pain levels (Visual Analogue Scale), fear of mobility (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia), functional independence (Functional Independence Measure), balance (Berg Balance Scale), basic mobility (Rivermead Mobility Index), mental function status (Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination), and delirium (Nu-DESC).

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences were observed in some assessment parameters within the groups during the 2nd and 3rd measurement times, with the intervention group demonstrating significant mean differences.

DISCUSSIONS

The literature underscores the increase in kinesiophobia scores post-general/abdominal surgery in older adults, emphasizing the importance of evaluating functional level and kinesiophobia to expedite discharge processes and potentially plan early post-discharge rehabilitation to mitigate readmissions for functional reasons.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultimately, foot massage was found to be effective in reducing kinesiophobia, improving balance, mobility, daily living skills, and mental status in older adults post-abdominal surgery, thereby advocating for the facilitation of post-discharge rehabilitation programs or the reduction of readmission rates.

THE CLINICAL TRIALS NUMBER

NCT05534490.

Physical activity changes and related factors in chronic heart failure patients during the postdischarge transition period: a longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) is essential and effective for chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. A greater understanding of the longitudinal change in PA and its influencing factors during the postdischarge transition period may help create interventions for improving PA. The aims of this study were (1) to compare the change in PA, (2) to examine the influencing factors of PA change, and (3) to verify the mediating pathways between influencing factors and PA during the postdischarge transition period in CHF patients.

METHODS

A total of 209 CHF patients were recruited using a longitudinal study design. The Chinese version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Patient-reported Outcome Measure for CHF (CHF-PRO), and the Chinese version of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart (TSK-Heart) were used to assess PA, CHF-related symptoms, and kinesiophobia. The IPAQ score was calculated (1) at admission, (2) two weeks after discharge, (3) two months after discharge, and (4) three months after discharge. Two additional questionnaires were collected during admission. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were fitted to identify variables associated with PA over time. We followed the STROBE checklist for reporting the study.

RESULTS

The PA scores at the four follow-up visits were 1039.50 (346.50-1953.00) (baseline/T1), 630.00 (1.00-1260.00) (T2), 693.00 (1-1323.00) (T3) and 693.00 (160.88-1386.00) (T4). The PA of CHF patients decreased unevenly, with the lowest level occurring two weeks after discharge, and gradually improving at two and three months after discharge. CHF-related symptoms and kinesiophobia were significantly associated with changes in PA over time. Compared with before hospitalization, an increase in CHF-related symptoms at two weeks and two months after discharge was significantly associated with decreased PA. According to our path analysis, CHF-related symptoms were positively and directly associated with kinesiophobia, and kinesiophobia was negatively and directly related to PA. Moreover, CHF-related symptoms are indirectly related to PA through kinesiophobia.

CONCLUSION

PA changed during the postdischarge transition period and was associated with CHF-related symptoms and kinesiophobia in CHF patients. Reducing CHF-related symptoms helps improve kinesiophobia in CHF patients. In addition, the reduction in CHF-related symptoms led to an increase in PA through the improvement of kinesiophobia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (11/10/2022 ChiCTR2200064561 retrospectively registered).

Correlates of musculoskeletal pain and kinesiophobia in older adults with heart failure: A structural equation model

The study aimed to study the influence of musculoskeletal pain on kinesiophobia in patients with heart failure. This cross-sectional study recruited 107 heart failure patients aged 73.18±12.68 years (57% men) from an outpatient setting. Participants self-reported pain using the Musculoskeletal System Assessment Inventory and the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire. Kinesiophobia was assessed with the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-11. About 62% reported musculoskeletal pain, with knees (16.8%) and lower back (12.%) being the most painful locations. About 31% reported moderate levels and 24% indicated high levels of kinesiophobia. There were positive and significant associations between the indicators of pain and kinesiophobia. Results showed an adequate structural equation model fit to the data with musculoskeletal pain factors explaining 22.09% of the variance in kinesiophobia. Assessment of kinesiophobia in patients with heart failure with musculoskeletal pain is essential to improve self-care and overall quality of life.

Comparison of gait speed, dynamic balance, and dual-task balance performance according to kinesiophobia level in older adults

PURPOSE

The presence of kinesiophobia was identified in older adults. Studies have examined the effects of kinesiophobia in older adults with chronic pain. Studies examining the effect of kinesiophobia on gait and balance performance in older adults without pain are insufficient. The aim of this study was to compare gait speed, dynamic balance, dual-task balance performance according to kinesiophobia level in community dwelling older adults without pain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy-five older adults were included. The socio-demographic data (age, height, weight, fall history, etc.) was recorded. Older adults were divided into two groups based on Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale scores. Scores below 37 were grouped as low level, scores above 37 were grouped as high level. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE), gait speed test, modified Four Square Step Test (mFSST), Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test, dual-mFSSt test (additional cognitive and motor task) were applied for dual-task balance performance.

RESULTS

Thirty-six participants(mean age 70.58 ± 5.59 years) had low kinesiophobia, the other 39 individuals(mean age70.94 ± 7.45 years) had high kinesiophobia. The age, gender, body mass index, cognitive status, and fall history were similar between groups (p > 0.05). The participants with low kinesiophobia were found to have better gait speed, dynamic balance, dual-task balance performance (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study results showed that the presence of high level of kinesiophobia affects gait speed, dynamic balance, dual-task balance performance, and dual-task cost in older adults. Therefore, a high level of kinesiophobia can lead to falls. It may be important to investigate the effects of kinesiophobia in older adults.

Investigation of factors influencing low physical activity levels in community-dwelling older adults with chronic pain: a cross-sectional study

Low levels of physical activity in individuals with chronic pain can lead to additional functional impairment and disability. This study aims to investigate the predictors of low physical activity levels in individuals with chronic pain, and to determine the accuracy of the artificial neural network used to analyze these predictors. Community-dwelling older adults with chronic pain (n = 103) were surveyed for their physical activity levels and classified into low, moderate, or high physical activity level groups. Chronic pain-related measurements, physical function assessment, and clinical history, which all influence physical activity, were also taken at the same time. Logistic regression analysis and analysis of multilayer perceptron, an artificial neural network algorithm, were performed. Both analyses revealed that history of falls was a predictor of low levels of physical activity in community-dwelling older adults. Multilayer perceptron analysis was shown to have excellent accuracy. Our results emphasize the importance of fall prevention in improving the physical activity levels of community-dwelling older adults with chronic pain. Future cross-sectional studies should compare multiple analysis methods to show results with improved accuracy.

The Effect of Diagonal Exercise Training for Neurorehabilitation on Functional Activity in Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study

Functional movements of the human body occur multifacetedly. This pilot study investigated the effects of neurorehabilitation training, including diagonal movements, balance, gait, fall efficacy, and activities of daily living in stroke patients. Twenty-eight patients diagnosed with stroke by a specialist were divided into experimental groups applying diagonal exercise training and control groups applying sagittal exercise training. The five times sit-to-stand test (FTSST), timed up and go (TUG) test, and Berg balance scale (BBS) were used to evaluate balance ability, the falls efficacy scale (FES) was used to evaluate fall efficacy, and the modified Barthel index (MBI) was used to evaluate activities of daily living. All evaluations were conducted once prior to intervention implementation and again six weeks after the final intervention. In the study results, the experimental group to which the diagonal exercise training was applied had statistically significant changes in FTSST, BBS, and FES compared to the control group. In conclusion, the rehabilitation program, including diagonal exercise training, increased the patient's balance and reduced the fear of falling.

The relationship between dyspnea-related kinesiophobia and physical activity in people with COPD: Cross-sectional survey and mediated moderation analysis

BACKGROUND

Changing the behavior of physical activity (PA) in COPD patients remains a challenge, because this population faces the same barriers to PA as the general population, as well as disease-specific barriers, especially dyspnea-related kinesiophobia.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the status of dyspnea-related kinesiophobia in people with COPD, and investigate its impact on PA levels, further examine the mediated moderation effects of exercise perception and social support on this relationship.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with COPD patients recruited from four tertiary hospitals in Jinan Province, China. We used Breathlessness Beliefs Questionnaire to identify dyspnea-related kinesiophobia. International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short-form, Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale, and Social Support Rating Scale were used to assess PA, exercise perception and social support, respectively. The data were statistically processed using correlation analysis and a test of mediated moderation model.

RESULTS

A total of 223 COPD patients were included, and all of them had a symptom of dyspnea-related kinesiophobia. Dyspnea-related kinesiophobia was negatively correlated with exercise perception, subjective social support and PA. Exercise perception partially mediated the impact of dyspnea-related kinesiophobia on PA levels, and subjective social support indirectly influences PA by moderating the relationship between dyspnea-related kinesiophobia and exercise perception.

CONCLUSIONS

People with COPD commonly have dyspnea-related kinesiophobia and experienced physical inactivity. The mediated moderation model provides a better understanding of how dyspnea-related kinesiophobia, exercise perception, and subjective social support work together to influence PA. Interventions seeking to improve the levels of PA in COPD patients should consider these elements.

The effect of pain social support on kinesiophobia in older patients with rheumatoid arthritis: The mediating role of self-perceived burden

OBJECTIVES

This study would investigate the role of self-perceived burden in mediating the relationship between pain social support and kinesiophobia.

METHODS

A convenience sampling method was used to survey 386 older patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a hospital in Liaoning Province. They were surveyed using the general demographic questionnaire, pain social support scale (SPQ), self-perceived burden scale (SPBS), and tampa scale of kinesiophobia(TSK-11).

RESULTS

Pain social support had a negative correlation with kinesiophobia(r=-0.336, p < 0.01). The self-perceived burden was positively correlated with kinesiophobia(r = 0.583, p < 0.01). The mediating effect of self-perceived burden accounted for 43.40% of the total effect.

CONCLUSIONS

The study had shown the mediating role of self-perceived burden to be beneficial in reducing kinesiophobia in older rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Effects of Non-Face-to-Face and Noncontact Interventions on Knee Pain and Physical Activity in Older Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Increased physical activity is an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis that causes knee pain. However, due to the coronavirus disease 2019, noncontact and non-face-to-face interventions have increased, but the quality of evidence supporting their effectiveness remains unclear. The purpose of the study was to assess the quality of evidence of the effects of non-face-to-face and noncontact interventions on knee pain and physical activity in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of different intervention methods (education and exercise). The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database were systematically searched. Four randomized controlled trials were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the educational intervention group was significantly effective, although supportive evidence was low quality. Educational intervention may be effective, but the effects need to be confirmed by higher quality clinical trials.