A survey of kinesiophobia as a correlate of lower limb function in patients with lower extremity fractures during inpatient post-operative rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: The rehabilitation phase of patients with lower extremity fractures (LEF) is often hindered post-operatively by fear of moving (kinesiophobia) with consequent deconditioning and declining of functions. Profiling the prevalence of kinesiophobia and its association with demographic variables could become useful during the rehabilitation process. Objective: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of kinesiophobia and its correlation with lower limb functions among patients with LEF post-operatively. Methods: One-hundred and nine (n = 109) patients [male = 79 (72.50%)] with mean age of 41.83 ± 17.37 yr. participated in the cross-sectional study. Participants with LEF who had either undergone closed reduction and immobilization or open reduction with internal or external fixation were recruited into this study using convenience sampling during the rehabilitation phase at the orthopaedic wards of two tertiary healthcare facilities in Accra. Data collection was performed using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) and Lower Extremity Functional Scale. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s Rho correlation coefficient and Chi-square tests at p < 0.05.Results: Seventy-nine (72.50%) of the participants exhibited kinesiophobia based on their TSK scores (≥37). The TSK scores were significantly inversely correlated with participants’ lower limb function (r = -0.345; p < 0.001). Participants’ sex as well as the causes, types and sites of the fractures sustained had no significant association (p > 0.050) with the level of kinesiophobia. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of kinesiophobia which negatively correlated with LEF but was not associated with the type, site, and cause of fracture as well as the participants’ sex. Mitigating kinesiophobia should always be considered an integral rehabilitation goal for in-patients with LEF.