Aim We aimed to examine the effect of kinesiophobia on functional
capacity, disease activity, quality of life and spatiotemporal parameters of
patients with AS by comparing AS patients with healthy controls.
Material and method Our study included 46 patients with ankylosing
spondylitis (AS) and 45 healthy controls (HC). Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis
Metrology Index (BASMI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI),
Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Scale (ASQoL), Bath Ankylosing
Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS)
scores, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, maximum plantar pressure and spatiotemporal
parameters (total weight transfer, step cycle duration, double-support phase,
swing phase, step length, foot angle and cadence) were evaluated.
Results Ninety-one individuals (46 AS, 45 HC)
(age/sex/BMI) were included in our study. Statistically
significant differences were seen between AS and HC groups in TUG, cadence, TKS,
maximum pressure, step cycle duration, swing phase, step length, double-support
phase, and foot angle measurements (p<0.05). Significant positive
correlations existed between TKS and BASMI, BASDAI, BASFI, ASoQ, TUG and foot
angle (p<0.05) in AS. Substantial negative correlations were found
between TKS and maximum pressure, cadence and swing phase values
(p<0.05) in AS.
Conclusion Our study is the first in the literature to measure
spatiotemporal parameters between patients with AS and HC and evaluate their
relationship with kinesiophobia, which was done to the best of our knowledge. We
found that patients with AS changed their gait phases by developing a unique
pattern and created a more cautious and safe gait model to provide balance and
stability. Our study revealed a statistically significant relationship between
kinesiophobia and disease activity, functional status, quality of life, cadence,
maximum plantar pressure, swing phase, and foot angle. The detailed data we
obtained in our study will shed light on gait analysis and research on
kinesiophobia in patients with AS. Kinesiophobia should be evaluated in routine
gait rehabilitation protocols applied to individuals with AS, and treatment
protocols for kinesiophobia should be added if necessary.