The role of fear of physical movement and activity in chronic fatigue syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To examine beliefs in relation to avoidance of activity in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients.


METHODS
The first phase consisted of modifying an existing chronic pain measure of kinesiophobia-fear of physical movement and activity-and validating it on the CFS population [Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-Fatigue (TSK-F); n=129; test-retest: r=.89, P<.001; alpha=.68]. Subscales of Illness Beliefs (alpha=.78) and Beliefs about Activity (alpha=.70) were identified. The second phase consisted of evaluating whether behavioural persistence was predicted by the TSK-F (n=33). Participants were asked to ride an exercise bike for as long as they felt able.


RESULTS
Analyses indicated that behavioural persistence did not correlate with maximal heart rate or resting heart rate, level of tiredness, symptom severity, illness identity or emotional distress. However, the TSK-F did correlate highly with distance travelled and added a significant 15% of the variance in distance after adjustments for gender and physical functioning (PF). The TSK-F Beliefs about Activity subscale appears to be the predictive factor, explaining 12% of the variance in excise performance or rather 12% of the avoidance of exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
Beliefs about Activity appear to be an important variable in predicting behaviour and avoidance of exercise. As avoidance has been suggested as a key to the maintenance of symptoms, disability and distress in CFS patients, this research has important theoretical, clinical and research implications.
Silver
A
A
Department of Psychological Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK. amysilver@appleonline.net
Haeney
M
M
Vijayadurai
P
P
Wilks
D
D
Pattrick
M
M
Main
C J
CJ
D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male