Year: 2025 | Month: June | Volume: 15 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 61-75
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20250609
Correlation Between Kinesiophobia, Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Mechanical Heart Valve Replacement Patients
Dr. Hetal M. Mistry (PT)1, Dr. Pooja B. Malbhage (PT)2
1Assistant Professor, Physiotherapy School and Centre, Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Ch. Hospital Mumbai.,
2Physiotherapy Resident, Physiotherapy School and Centre, Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Ch. Hospital, Mumbai., India.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Pooja B. Malbhage (PT)
ABSTRACT
Background: Mechanical heart valve replacement is a lifesaving procedure, but it can lead to challenges in post operative recovery, including reduced physical capacity and diminished quality of life. Kinesiophobia or the fear of movement after cardiac surgery is associated with physical activity and non-adherence to cardiac rehabilitation. It is observed that functional capacity is significantly reduced after cardiac surgery. Long term kinesiophobia leads to avoidance behaviours and hampers the physical levels and leads to deconditioning.
Objectives: This observational, prospective study aimed to investigate the correlation between kinesiophobia, functional capacity and quality of life in mechanical heart valve replacement patients.
Subjects and Methods: A convenient sample of 40 mechanical heart valve replacement patients were included in the study. The Tampa Scale of kinesiophobia-Short Version Heart (TSK-SV Heart), Quality of Life was assessed using WHOQOL-BREF Scale and Six Minute Walk Test were done in the CVTS-OPD. The spearman rho correlation was done to find a correlation between kinesiophobia and Functional capacity, kinesiophobia and Quality of life, Functional capacity and Quality of Life.
Results: It was observed that there was no correlation between Kinesiophobia and Functional Capacity (with r value of 0.271 and p value 0.09). However, the mean of the total TSK-SV Score was 38.40±3.403 which was high and 72.5% of the population reported high kinesiophobia. But at the same time, we found that there is a weak negative correlation between Kinesiophobia and WHOQOL BREF: Environmental domain of (r=-0.365, and p=0.021value) and there is a weak positive correlation between Functional Capacity and WHOQOL BREF: Physical domain of (r=0.399, and p=0.011 value).
Conclusion: The result of this study supports the null hypothesis. There is no correlation between Kinesiophobia and Functional Capacity but patients did report high kinesiophobia and thus it should not be underestimated during cardiac rehabilitation. The possible reasons for high kinesiophobia could be lack of awareness about the safety and level of physical activity, over-protective care givers, lack of attendance to cardiac rehabilitation post discharge, anxiety, and depression. But at the same time, we found that there is a weak negative correlation between Kinesiophobia and WHOQOL BREF: Environmental domain and there is a weak positive correlation between Functional Capacity and WHOQOL BREF: Physical domain.
Key words: Mechanical valve replacement, Kinesiophobia, Functional capacity, Quality of life, Cardiac Rehabilitation.