Changes in fear of movement in patients attending cardiac rehabilitation: responsiveness of the TSK-NL Heart

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background An important factor related to low physical activity in cardiac patients is fear of movement (kinesiophobia). The setting of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) seems suitable for targeting kinesiophobia. Nevertheless, the impact of CR on kinesiophobia is currently unknown, partly due to the absence of information on the responsiveness of instruments to measure kinesiophobia. Purpose To determine the responsiveness of the Dutch version of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia questionnaire (TSK-NL Heart), to asses changes in kinesiophobia during participation in CR and to assess predictors of high levels of kinesiophobia at completion of CR. Methods This study was performed among 109 patients (mean age: 61 years; 76% men) who participated in a 6- till 12-week CR program. Kinesiophobia was measured using the TSK-NL Heart questionnaire. To determine the responsiveness of the TSK-NL Heart, the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ) and the general anxiety scale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) were used as external measures. All questionnaires were completed pre- and post-CR. Internal responsiveness was estimated by calculating the effect size (ES) and standardized response mean (SRM). External responsiveness was determined by calculating the correlation between change scores on the TSK-NL heart and on the external measures. Furthermore, univariate logistic regression analysis was performed with the dichotomized TSK-NL Heart score post-CR as dependent variable (high vs low scores) and baseline characteristics (age, sex, reason for referral and pre-CR scores on the TSK-NL Heart, CAQ and HADS) as predictor variables. Results Prevalence of a high levels of kinesiophobia improved from 40.4% pre-CR to 25.7% at completion of CR (p = 0.05). Both the ES and the SRM of the TSK change score were moderate for patients with an improved CAQ and HADS-A score (respectively ES = 0.52; SRM = 0.57 and ES = 0.54; SRM = 0.60) and small for patients with a stable score (ES = 0; SRM = 0 and ES = 0.26; SRM = 0.36). There was a moderate correlation between the TSK-NL Heart change score and the CAQ (Rs = 0.30, p = 0.023) and a small correlation between the TSK-NL Heart change score and the HADS-A (Rs =0.21, p = 0.107). The odds of having high kinesiophobia levels post-CR were increased by having a high level of kinesiophobia pre-CR (OR= 9.83, 95%CI: 3.52-27.46), a higher baseline score on the CAQ (OR = 1.12, 95%CI: 1.06-1.19), and a higher baseline score on the HADS-A (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.11-1.42). Conclusion The TSK-NL Heart has moderate responsiveness. In addition, this study shows that there are reductions in kinesiophobia during the course of CR. Nevertheless, a large number of patients (26%) still had high levels of kinesiophobia at completion of CR. Interventions targeting kinesiophobia should focus on patients that enter CR with high levels of kinesiophobia, cardiac anxiety and generic anxiety

Fear of movement in patients referred to cardiac rehabilitation: Poster Session 2

Introduction: Patients with kinesiophobia (fear of movement) avoid physical activity. Avoidance of physical activity is linked to adverse cardiac events and thus needs to be targeted. However, there is no contemporary measurement tool to assess kinesiophobia in cardiac patients. Therefore data on prevalence of kinesiophobia are lacking in patients attending Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR). The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK-NL Heart) is a 17 item questionnaire using a 4 point Likert scale (score range 17 to 68 points) to measurekinesiophobia). Purpose: To study the test-retest reliability and construct validity of the TSK-NL Heart and to assess the distribution of kinesiophobia in patients. Methods: Patients referred for CR were asked to fill in the TSK-NL Heart and the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ). After five days patients filled in the TSK-NL Heart for the second time. Test-retest reliability of the TSK-NL Heart was assessed with the Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and construct validity with the Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient (r) by correlating the TSK-NL Heart with the CAQ. The distribution of kinesiophobia in cardiac patients was assessed by determining the median score with range and quartiles (Q1-4) since there is no well validated cut off point of the TSK-NL Heart. Nevertheless, recent studies have used a score >37 as an indication for Kinesiophobia. Results: We included 116 patients in this study with a median age of 64, 5 years old who were mainly referred for CR after a PCI procedure for STEMI. Substantial agreement was found for the overall ICC of the TSK (ICC = 0.67; p = < 0.001). With regard to construct validity, a moderate strong correlation was found between the TSK and CAQ (r= 0.57; p = < 0.001). Scores of the TSK-NL Heart ranged from 26 to 56 points with a median patient score of 39.Q1 = 26-33, Q2 = 33-39, Q3 = 39-44, Q4 = 4456. Conclusion: The TSK-NL Heart has substantial test-retest reliability and a moderate to strong correlation with the CAQ suggesting construct validity. The scores on CAQ and the TSK indicate that cardiac anxiety and fear of movement is present in a large proportion of cardiac patients. Further research is necessary to investigate the impact of kinesiophobia on objectively measured physical activity and to develop treatment strategies for kinesiophobia in cardiac patient

Fitkids Exercise Therapy Program in the Netherlands

<p>Purpose: To describe the demographics, medical diagnoses, and initial aerobic fitness levels of children participating in Fitkids: an exercise therapy program for children with chronic conditions or disabilities in the Netherlands. Methods: We reviewed data of children who were in the program on September 2010. Results: In total, 2482 children from 105 Fitkids centers were included. Results showed the large heterogeneity of the population regarding demographic characteristics and medical diagnoses. Significantly reduced scores on the 6-minute walk test and half Bruce treadmill test were observed. Conclusion: The Fitkids population has great heterogeneity. In addition, a plethora of fitness tests were used, and registration of data in the Fitkids database was suboptimal. Moreover, this study showed the impaired aerobic fitness of children participating in Fitkids. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of the Fitkids program. (Pediatr Phys Ther 2013;25:7-13)</p>

Relationships between Dietary Intake and Body Composition according to Gross Motor Functional Ability in Preschool-Aged Children with Cerebral Palsy

Background/Aims: We aimed to determine the relationships between energy intake, macronutrient intake and body composition in preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy (CP) according to gross motor functional ability in comparison with typically developing children (TDC). Methods: Seventy-three children with CP (70% male) of all functional abilities and 16 TDC (63% male) aged 2.8 +/- 0.9 years participated in this study. Dietary intake was measured via a validated 3-day weighed food record. Body composition was determined via isotope dilution techniques. Results: There was a significant relationship between energy intake and fat-free mass index, which was stronger in TDC compared to children with CP. There were no significant correlations between other dietary intake and body composition variables, despite differences in body composition as ambulatory status declined. Non-ambulant, tube-fed children had significantly lower protein intakes compared to orally fed children. No other differences in macronutrient intake between children with CP and TDC were apparent. Conclusions: Results suggest that relationships between dietary intake and body composition are not evident in this population, but develop over time. Physical activity levels may have a greater impact on body composition at this age. Longitudinal research is required to examine these factors. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base