The effect of cardiac rehabilitation on kinesiophobia in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to define the level of kinesiophobia in cardiac patients, to determine whether there was a positive change in kinesiophobia after an exercise based cardiac rehabilitation (CR), and to define the associated variables with the change in kinesiophobia.

Patients and methods: Between September 2017 and December 2018, a total of 98 patients (63 males, 35 females; mean age: 58±10.4 years; range, 36 to 78 years) diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) were included in the study. The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart (TSK-SV Heart) was used to measure kinesiophobia. The short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was applied to measure physical activity level. The Short Form 36 (SF-36) was used to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL). After CR, kinesiophobia was reevaluated.

Results: A high level of kinesiophobia was present in 74.5% of the patients. The mean TSK-SV heart score was 41.4±6.2. After CR, 34.6% of the patients had a high level of kinesiophobia (p<0.001). The patients with a high level of kinesiophobia were physically more inactive than those with a low level of kinesiophobia (p=0.001) and HRQoL scores were significantly lower (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Kinesiophobia is quite common in patients with CAD. Aerobic exercise capacity and physical activity levels are lower in patients with a high level of kinesiophobia, compared to those with a low level of kinesiophobia. After an exercise-based CR program, kinesiophobia significantly reduces.