Assessment and treatment of patients with kinesiophobia: A Delphi consensus

Abstract

Kinesiophobia is described as pain-related fear of movement and plays a role in the development of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Several approaches have been described in the literature, but there does not seem to be a consensus on the most appropriate way to evaluate and treat patients with kinesiophobia. The aim of this study was to identify clinically relevant assessments and treatments recommended by a consensus of experts. Fourteen experts were identified to participate in a three-round internet-based Delphi study. Participants were asked to propose assessments and treatments (round 1), to grade each proposal on a Likert scale of 9 (round 2), and to reassess their level of agreement (round 3). The consensus was defined with 75% agreement. Five methods of assessment and six treatment approaches reached a consensus. The TAMPA scale reached the top position as an assessment of kinesiophobia. Graded exposure to movement, cognitive and behavioral therapy, and pain neuroscience education were the highest-rated interventions. These results provide the first expert consensus on preferred assessments and treatments for patients with kinesiophobia and correspond with the evidence base in the literature.