The chain-mediated effects of negative emotions and nutrition on muscle strength and motor function in patients with disuse muscle atrophy

[Objective] To investigate the chain-mediated effects of negative emotions and nutrition on muscle strength and motor function in patients with disuse muscle atrophy. [Methods] A total of 222 patients with disuse muscle atrophy in the rehabilitation department of a tertiary hospital in Urumqi City, Xinjiang, from April 2023 to July 2024 were selected for the survey. Questionnaires, Medical research council muscle strength score, Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale, Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 and Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Rating Scale were used for evaluation. A structural equation model was built with PROCESS plug-in for path analysis, and Bootstrap method was used for mediation effect test. [Results] The total score of muscle strength in patients with disuse muscular atrophy was 42.00(30.00, 50.25), the total score of negative emotion was 26(16, 38), the total score of malnutrition risk was 4(3, 6), and the total score of motor function was 35.00(16.50, 62.25). There was a correlation between the variables(P<0.05). The indirect effect of muscle strength on motor function was established, and the total indirect effect was 0.852. Among them, the specific mediating effects of negative emotions and nutrition accounted for 35.68% and 45.42% , respectively, and the chain mediating effect of the two accounted for 18.66%. [Conclusion] Patients with disuse muscle atrophy have intermediate levels of muscle strength and negative emotion, a high risk of malnutrition and severe motor dysfunction. Negative emotion and nutrition play a chain-mediated role between muscle strength and motor function in patients disuse muscle atrophy.