Neuroticism Overestimated? Neuroticism Versus Hypertonia, Pain and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Post-Spinal Cord Injury Patients Rehabilitated Conventionally and with Robotic-Assisted Gait Training

Background: The aim of the present study was to analyse the association between neuroticism (one of the Big Five personality traits) and the most common secondary sensorimotor complications occurring in patients after spinal cord injury (SCI), i.e., muscle spasticity (hypertonia) and pain, and to in...

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Main Authors: Alicja Widuch-Spodyniuk, Beata Tarnacka, Bogumił Korczyński, Aleksandra Borkowska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Brain Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1153
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author Alicja Widuch-Spodyniuk
Beata Tarnacka
Bogumił Korczyński
Aleksandra Borkowska
author_facet Alicja Widuch-Spodyniuk
Beata Tarnacka
Bogumił Korczyński
Aleksandra Borkowska
author_sort Alicja Widuch-Spodyniuk
collection DOAJ
description Background: The aim of the present study was to analyse the association between neuroticism (one of the Big Five personality traits) and the most common secondary sensorimotor complications occurring in patients after spinal cord injury (SCI), i.e., muscle spasticity (hypertonia) and pain, and to investigate the associations between neuroticism and the effects of conventional rehabilitation (dynamic parapodium) and those using robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) in this group of patients. In addition, the association of neuroticism with self-efficacy, personal beliefs about pain control, and adopted coping strategies among SCI patients was analysed. These data can be used as a reference for designing effective forms of therapy and support dedicated to this group of patients. Methods and procedures: Quantitative analysis included 110 patients after SCI. The participants were divided by simple randomisation into a rehabilitation group with RAGT and a rehabilitation group with dynamic parapodium therapy (DPT). The following survey instruments were used for data collection: Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R); Ashworth Scale; the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM III); the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI-II); the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS); the Pain Coping Strategies Questionnaire—CSQ; and the Beliefs about Pain Control Questionnaire—BPCQ. Outcomes and results: analyses showed a positive association between neuroticism and spastic tension (rho = 0.39; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusions and implications: the study showed that a high level of neuroticism correlates with a higher level of spasticity, but no such correlation was observed for pain. Additionally, the study did not show a significant correlation between neuroticism and rehabilitation outcome depending on the rehabilitation modality (RAGT vs. DPT). The results underline the importance of carrying out a psychological diagnosis of patients to provide therapeutic support in the rehabilitation process.
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spelling doaj-art-b1796508bd4a42f4b7094292039f51e02025-08-20T01:53:52ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-11-011411115310.3390/brainsci14111153Neuroticism Overestimated? Neuroticism Versus Hypertonia, Pain and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Post-Spinal Cord Injury Patients Rehabilitated Conventionally and with Robotic-Assisted Gait TrainingAlicja Widuch-Spodyniuk0Beata Tarnacka1Bogumił Korczyński2Aleksandra Borkowska3Research Institute for Innovative Methods of Rehabilitation of Patients with Spinal Cord Injury in Kamien Pomorski, Health Resort Kamien Pomorski, 72-400 Kamien Pomorski, PolandDepartment of Rehabilitation, Eleonora Reicher National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, 02-637 Warsaw, PolandResearch Institute for Innovative Methods of Rehabilitation of Patients with Spinal Cord Injury in Kamien Pomorski, Health Resort Kamien Pomorski, 72-400 Kamien Pomorski, PolandDepartment of Rehabilitation, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, PolandBackground: The aim of the present study was to analyse the association between neuroticism (one of the Big Five personality traits) and the most common secondary sensorimotor complications occurring in patients after spinal cord injury (SCI), i.e., muscle spasticity (hypertonia) and pain, and to investigate the associations between neuroticism and the effects of conventional rehabilitation (dynamic parapodium) and those using robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) in this group of patients. In addition, the association of neuroticism with self-efficacy, personal beliefs about pain control, and adopted coping strategies among SCI patients was analysed. These data can be used as a reference for designing effective forms of therapy and support dedicated to this group of patients. Methods and procedures: Quantitative analysis included 110 patients after SCI. The participants were divided by simple randomisation into a rehabilitation group with RAGT and a rehabilitation group with dynamic parapodium therapy (DPT). The following survey instruments were used for data collection: Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R); Ashworth Scale; the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM III); the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI-II); the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS); the Pain Coping Strategies Questionnaire—CSQ; and the Beliefs about Pain Control Questionnaire—BPCQ. Outcomes and results: analyses showed a positive association between neuroticism and spastic tension (rho = 0.39; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusions and implications: the study showed that a high level of neuroticism correlates with a higher level of spasticity, but no such correlation was observed for pain. Additionally, the study did not show a significant correlation between neuroticism and rehabilitation outcome depending on the rehabilitation modality (RAGT vs. DPT). The results underline the importance of carrying out a psychological diagnosis of patients to provide therapeutic support in the rehabilitation process.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1153spinal cord injury (SCI)neuroticismspasticitypain
spellingShingle Alicja Widuch-Spodyniuk
Beata Tarnacka
Bogumił Korczyński
Aleksandra Borkowska
Neuroticism Overestimated? Neuroticism Versus Hypertonia, Pain and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Post-Spinal Cord Injury Patients Rehabilitated Conventionally and with Robotic-Assisted Gait Training
Brain Sciences
spinal cord injury (SCI)
neuroticism
spasticity
pain
title Neuroticism Overestimated? Neuroticism Versus Hypertonia, Pain and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Post-Spinal Cord Injury Patients Rehabilitated Conventionally and with Robotic-Assisted Gait Training
title_full Neuroticism Overestimated? Neuroticism Versus Hypertonia, Pain and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Post-Spinal Cord Injury Patients Rehabilitated Conventionally and with Robotic-Assisted Gait Training
title_fullStr Neuroticism Overestimated? Neuroticism Versus Hypertonia, Pain and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Post-Spinal Cord Injury Patients Rehabilitated Conventionally and with Robotic-Assisted Gait Training
title_full_unstemmed Neuroticism Overestimated? Neuroticism Versus Hypertonia, Pain and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Post-Spinal Cord Injury Patients Rehabilitated Conventionally and with Robotic-Assisted Gait Training
title_short Neuroticism Overestimated? Neuroticism Versus Hypertonia, Pain and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Post-Spinal Cord Injury Patients Rehabilitated Conventionally and with Robotic-Assisted Gait Training
title_sort neuroticism overestimated neuroticism versus hypertonia pain and rehabilitation outcomes in post spinal cord injury patients rehabilitated conventionally and with robotic assisted gait training
topic spinal cord injury (SCI)
neuroticism
spasticity
pain
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1153
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