Characteristics and associated factors of kinesiophobia for the patients with chronic neck pain

Abstract

Background: Long-term neck pain is a familiar condition that mostly contributes to kinesiophobia or fear of movement. It is the fear that can restrain physical activity as well as create some obstacles on the road of recovery. It is worthwhile to know the exact beliefs leading to kinesiophobia so that it can be treated better, however, total scores are employed in most studies. In this research, the researchers investigate the kinesiophobia issues within individuals who have chronic neck pain. Objectives: To identify the characteristics and associated factors of kinesiophobia of chronic neck pain patients. Methodology: A cross sectional study design was selected to assess 113 chronic neck pain participants using a convenient sampling method at the Musculoskeletal Unit of Physiotherapy Department at Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), Savar, Data collection involved face to face interview through a semi structured questionnaire which include socio demographic questions, pain related questions using modified Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, pain intensity measurement using visual Analogue Scale, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Neck Disability Index scale. Result: Higher kinesiophobia was 72.6 percent among the 113 participants. Majorities of the participants experienced moderate (56%) and severe (20.4%) neck disability. There was a strong correlation between some of the items of the TSK and certain complaints. As an illustration, the assumption, according to which exercise is associated with the alleviation of pain, was strongly correlated with the inability to stand up and maintain static positions. the signals to stop exercise due to pain were linked with heavy loading, gender and exercise status. There was however no significant association between individual TSK items and general level of pain or disability. An important relationship between disability level and total kinesiophobia level or the intensity of pain was not noted. Discussion: The results indicate that kinesiophobia may not associate to a greater degree with total disability or pain measures, rather, fear-based beliefs are strongly linked to certain functional limitations where the limitations concerned lifting, posture tolerance and disturbances in sleep. Such associations based on different beliefs may be used to inform more individualized interventions to assist patients with chronic neck pain. Key words: Chronic neck pain, Kinesiophobia, Characteristics, Associated factor