Kinesiophobia, exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength and physical activity in patients with hypertension: A cross-sectional study.

Functional limitations have recently been shown in patients with hypertension. However, the causes of kinesiophobia remain unknown. The aim was to compare functional exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength, level of kinesiophobia, physical activity, fatigue, dyspnea, and quality of life in hypertension patients and healthy controls and to investigate the relationship between aforementioned outcomes in patients. Fifty-six patients and 45 matched controls were included. Functional exercise capacity [6 min. walking test (6MWT)], peripheral muscle strength (Dynamometer), kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia), physical activity level [International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)], perception of dyspnea (Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea scale), fatigue (Fatigue Severity scale), and quality of life (Short Form-36 questionnaire) were evaluated. Demographic characteristics were similar in patients (54.58±11.33y,35M/21F) and healthy controls (51.11±7.42y,33M/12F) (p>0.05). Peripheral muscle strength (p<0.05), 6MWT, physical activity, and quality of life were significantly lower (p<0.05); level of kinesiophobia (p<0.001), perception of dyspnea (p<0.001), and fatigue (p=0.001) scores were higher in patients compared with controls. IPAQ (r=-0.556, p<0.001), quadriceps femoris (r=-0.429, p=0.001), hip flexor (r=-0.380, p=0.004), shoulder abductor (r=-0.410, p=0.002), elbow flexor (r=-0.364, p=0.006), hand-grip strength (r=-0.355, p=0.007), fatigue (r=0.434, p=0.001), SF-36 physical functioning (r=0.404, p=0.002), role limitations due to physical health (r=-0.370, p=0.005), energy/fatigue (r=-0.357, p=0.007), general health (r=-0.280, p=0.036) was related to kinesiophobia in patients. Patients had impaired functional exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength, higher levels of kinesiophobia, perception of fatigue and dyspnea, reduced physical activity level, and quality of life compared with healthy controls. In addition, a higher degree of kinesiophobia was related to physical inactivity, weakened upper and lower extremity muscle strength, fatigue, and impaired quality of life in patients. Patients should be directed to cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]