Kinesiophobia Is Associated with Migraine

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess kinesiophobia in patients with migraine and to determine its association and correlation with cutaneous allodynia and clinical manifestations of migraine.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: A headache clinic of a university-based hospital.

Subjects: Eighty-nine patients diagnosed with migraine by a neurologist specialized in headache.

Methods: Patients completed the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) and the 12-item Allodynia Symptom Checklist (ASC-12) and described the frequency, duration, and intensity of migraine attacks, as well as number of years with migraine.

Results: The prevalence of kinesiophobia was 53%, and it was associated with the classification of severe cutaneous allodynia (X2= 9.96, P = 0.02) but not with its presence (X2= 3.11, P = 0.07). Kinesiophobia and clinical migraine features were not significantly associated (P > 0.05), nor were TSK score, ASC-12 score, or clinical migraine features (r < 0.21, P > 0.05). Subjects with migraine, with or without kinesiophobia, believed that physical activity could not help to control or relieve their pain, and those with kinesiophobia, furthermore, believed that exercise may be harmful.

Conclusions: Kinesiophobia is present in about half of migraineurs. It was associated with worsened cutaneous allodynia severity, but not with its presence, in patients with migraine. Education strategies should be implemented as negative beliefs related to exercise are present despite its evidence of benefit in migraine treatment.