Introduction
The term kinesiophobia is often applicable in physical therapy and rehabilitation medicine, as the condition predominantly influences and affects physical performances and rehabilitation. As a result, the individuals are vulnerable to prolonged pain and disability, which becomes a long-term consequence. Since physiotherapy is for physical stimulation, it paves the way for relieving irrational fear and promoting movements.
What Is Kinesiophobia?
Kinesiophobia is characterized by irrational, intense, and debilitating fear due to movements. The fear of motion and physical activity is solely associated with a fear of reinjury or injury as a response to movement. The episodes of pain in kinesiophobia occur when the person completes the use and movements of the affected parts.
Components of Kinesiophobia:
- Unhealthy and threatening stimulus.
- Heightened sympathetic arousal.
- Defending patterns of behavior.
How Is Kinesiophobia Developed?
Here, the debilitating fear is ascertained to be the central prime factor in the whole process, from acute to chronic phases of pain development. There is no solitary cause for the development of kinesiophobia. Nevertheless, the condition was predicted to develop by the following two significant phenomena.
- Past Events: The painful or traumatic experience in conjunction with the worst pain episodes in the past, rightly after the tragic events.
- Social Ailments: This is acquired through social learning and observation. For example, the person develops pain and pain-allied thoughts under observation from their peers facing painful events.
What Is the Role of Kinesiophobia in Medical Conditions?
Kinesiophobia is attributable to the fear of the recurrence of illnesses. So, it is typically marked in the following medical illnesses.
1. Cardiovascular Conditions
Cardiovascular events are terrifying and life-threatening, which fixes unhealthy marks, deeds, and life perspectives in people. Coronary artery disease, an injury or damage of the major vessels in the heart, often results in conjugation with cognitive concerns such as depression, social isolation, anxiety, and aggression. In addition, fear and avoidance behaviors are more common after a heart attack or acute myocardial infarction. With these concerns, people are more likely to develop unusual fear of practicing physical activities and exercise. In contrast, the fear with avoidance behavior culminates in such unfavorable outcomes. So, these people fail to manage their fear and thus are disposed to kinesiophobia. Therefore, the studies reveal that about 20 percent of coronary artery disease cases exert kinesiophobia within about six months of the episode.
2. Neurological Conditions
Kinesiophobia is also common in subjects with neurological conditions though it does not influence the severity and illness of distress. The root issue is the poor perception that physical activity aggravates disease and pain, which should be addressed at the earliest. Kinesiophobia is frequent in the following neurological conditions.
- Stroke.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Multiple sclerosis.
3. Musculoskeletal Conditions
Physical inactivity and chronic musculoskeletal pain are concomitant in several ways, which of these require physical stimulation for pain relief and rehabilitation. Therefore, people with musculoskeletal conditions halt physical performances thinking that would result in reinjury or strains. This anxiety is a predominant factor for further episodes of pain, inactivity, emotional stress disability, and unhealthy quality of being. In addition, studies state that kinesiophobia is seen among 79 percent of individuals encountering musculoskeletal pain.
4. Migraine
Migraine is a neurological disorder of intense headaches that distresses physical activities and daily functions. So, intense degrees of pain, avoidance behavior, and kinesiophobia if often linked and known to be significant determinants of migraine.
5. Older Adults
Kinesiophobia has been reported as a high prevalence among older adults and people in care settings. This is chiefly due to the inactivity and abandonment impacts among older populations. As a result, older adults are at significant risk and prospect for major health illnesses, impairments, immobilization, and early fatalities. And so, kinesiophobia seems to be concurrent with pain severity and unhealthy insights.
How Is Kinesiophobia Assessed?
Medical healthcare professionals first rule out the pain and its causation, the underlying medical illness. At the same time, kinesiophobia is detected and assessed with an assessment scale called the Tampa Scale of kinesiophobia.
- The scale is a self-administered questionnaire encompassing 17 items for rating the fear of movement.
- The scale is utilized in different ways, considering the painful body parts.
- In addition, a range of valid, definitive, and reliable questionnaires are framed for differentiating the non-excessive pain among musculoskeletal concerns.
- The scale also drifts the scores from 17 to 68, where the furthest score indicates severe forms of kinesiophobia.
What Are the Treatment Strategies for Kinesiophobia?
The intervention for kinesiophobia is aimed at addressing the root cause and unhealthy perception. The treatment incorporates preventive analgesic therapy and a physiotherapy approach. However, the intervention relies on the following goals.
Goals-
- Settings of functional and requisite objectives, considering the individual’s wishes.
- Teaching specific strategies to enhance and direct safe, sound, and healthy behaviors.
- Exposure to fearful circumstances with appropriate measures ad cautions.
Treatment Options-
- Education: The doctors contribute education to help individuals understand their problems, expel the misconception, and alleviate fear.
- Gradual Exposure and Activity: The physical activities are then introduced in a gradual, controlled, and tailored way to regain confidence.
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: This psychotherapy helps individuals reduce negative beliefs, distorted thoughts, and modified behaviors developed with kinesiophobia.
- Physical Therapy: Physical therapy plays a crucial role since it addresses strength, physical functioning, movement patterns, and flexibility.
- Supportive Counseling: Underlying emotional issues and stress are alleviated with counseling.
How Physiotherapy Helps the Person With Kinesiophobia?
Preventive analgesia measures advance the person’s satisfaction, participation, and involvement in the exercises. So, the individuals rapidly and effectively adhere to the physiotherapist’s tailored practices. The physiotherapeutic approach relieves the fear of movement along with enduring disability, function, and quality of life.
Treatments in Physiotherapy:
- Hot pack.
- Range of motion exercises.
- Strengthening exercises.
- Flexibility training.
Conclusion
Kinesiophobia simply refers to the fear of movement. It generally describes an irrational and intense fear of physical movement and activity because of the belief that such movement will cause pain, injury, and harm again. So, it typically occurs with individuals who have encountered previous pain and injuries. This condition could limit the physical functioning of an individual, impacting the overall quality of life. Kinesiophobia is also a condition that should require medical attention at the earliest as it can cause further pain and disability. Consequently, healthcare professionals consider kinesiophobia a significant factor in aspects of preliminary assessments.
