Kinesiophobia in patients with systemic sclerosis: relationship with functional status, pulmonary fibrosis, depression, and other clinical parameters

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of kinesiophobia and its relationship with functional status, quality of life, pulmonary involvement, depression, and other clinical parameters of the disease in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Patients and Methods : A total of 100 individuals (40 patients with SSc and 60 healthy controls) were included in the study. The Tampa scale was used to assess kinesiophobia. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression, Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (SSc-HAQ) was used to assess functional status, Modified Rodnan Skin Score was used to assess skin thickness, and high-resolution computed tomography was used to assess lung fibrosis. Results: The mean Tampa kinesiophobia score was significantly higher in patients with SSc compared to healthy controls. Depressive symptoms were present in 57.5% of patients with SSc. Disease duration, pain, fatigue, disease activity, functional status, pulmonary fibrosis and depressive symptoms were correlated with kinesiophobia in patients with SSc. Conclusion: There is an increased prevalence of kinesiophobia in patients with systemic sclerosis, which seems to be more closely associated with disease duration, pain levels, and depressive symptoms.