The relationship between fear of movement, fatigue severity, dyspnea perception and 1-minute sit-to-stand test performance in lung transplantation recipients

<bold>Introduction and background:</bold> Fatigue is an important problem in patients and exercise capacity cannot reach the expected normal values after lung transplantation (LT). Limited studies have indicated the presence of kinesiophobia in LTrecipients, yet the associated factors with these parameter remain unclear. <bold>Objectives:</bold> The aim of our study is to investigate relationships between kinesiophobia, fatigue, functional capacity and change in dyspnea perception during exercise test in LT recipients. <bold>Methods:</bold> Twenty-five patients with LT recipients (mean age: 49.8±12.97 years, 20 men/5 women, mean time after LT: 42.0±27.9 months) were included in thisstudy. Kinesiophobia was assessed using Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK). Dyspnea and fatigue perceptions were determined using the modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), respectively. Functional capacity was evaluated with the 1 minute sit-to-stand test (1 STS). <bold>Results:</bold> TSK score was significantly associated with mMRC (r=0.42, p<0.05), FSS (r=0.65, p<0.01) scores. Although there was no significant relationship between TSK score and 1 STS score (p>0.05), there was a significant relation between changes in leg fatigue (r=0.40, p<0.05) and dyspnea (r=0.59, p<0.01) perceptions during 1 STS. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Increased dyspnea and fatigue perceptions are associated with a high degree of kinesiophobia in LT recipients. It is important to evaluate kinesiophobia in routine evaluations for goal-directed plannedpulmonary rehabilitation programs. <bold>Keywords:</bold> Lung Transplant, kinesiophobia, fatigue, dyspnea