• Jo Nijs, Kenny De Meirleir, and William Duquet.
• Department of Human Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium. Jo.Nijs@vub.ac.be
• Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004 Oct 1;85(10):1586-92.

ObjectivesTo investigate aspects of the validity of the total scores of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Dutch Version, which was modified to make it an appropriate questionnaire for the assessment of kinesiophobia (fear of movement) in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients (the Dutch TSK-CFS), and, using this assessment tool, to examine the associations between kinesiophobia, exercise capacity, and activity limitations and participation restrictions in patients with CFS.DesignProspective observational studies.SettingAn outpatient fatigue clinic.ParticipantsIn the first study, 40 patients fulfilling the 1994 US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria for CFS were enrolled. The sample of the second study consisted of 51 CDC-defined patients with CSF.InterventionsNot applicable. Main outcome measures Study 1: Subjects completed a set of questionnaires; the Utrechtse Coping List (UCL), the Dutch TSK-CFS, and the Dutch Baecke Questionnaire of Habitual Physical Activity. Study 2: All patients completed 2 questionnaires (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Activities and Participation Questionnaire [CFS-APQ], Dutch TSK-CFS) and performed a maximal exercise stress test on a bicycle ergometer. The heart rate was monitored continuously by use of an electrocardiograph. Metabolic and ventilatory parameters were measured through spirometry.ResultsStudy 1: The Cronbach alpha coefficient for the individual item scores on the TSK-CFS was .80. The total scores on the Dutch TSK-CFS showed a statistically significant correlation with both the avoidance/abide subscale of the UCL (Spearman rho=.35, P=.029) and the total score of the Baecke Questionnaire (rho=-.45, P=.004). Study 2: The total scores on the Dutch TSK-CFS showed a statistically significant correlation with the total scores on the CFS-APQ (rho=.39, P=.004). No statistically significant associations were observed between the exercise capacity parameters and the total scores on the Dutch TSK-CFS.ConclusionsThese results provide evidence for the internal consistency and the convergent and congruent validity of the scores obtained by use of the Dutch TSK-CFS. Kinesiophobia appears to be associated with activity limitations/participation restrictions but not with exercise capacity in patients with CFS.

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