The Relationship between Kinesiophobia, Pain Intensity and Functional Disability among Elderly Individuals with Low Back Pain: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Low Back Pain (LBP) is the most common health problem among elderly individuals, leading to pain and disability. Alongside pain, psychosocial factors have a significant impact on patients with LBP. Kinesiophobia is defined as a fear of physical movement and activity, which can result in avoidance of activities and movement, leading to deconditioning. The relationship between kinesiophobia and pain severity is complex and interrelated, with each affecting the other and restricting the patient’s participation in daily activities. Aim: To investigate the relationship between kinesiophobia, pain severity, and functional disability in older people with LBP. Materials and Methods: A total of 49 participants over 60 years old with LBP were recruited for this cross-sectional study at the Department of Physiotherapy, Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy, Deralakatte, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India. Subjects were recruited from March 2022 to February 2023 based on inclusion criteria. Screened participants completed a self-reported questionnaire, The subjects themselves filled out the outcome tools. including the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) Questionnaire, the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire tool, and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) to assess various aspects of kinesiophobia, functional disability, and pain severity. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to determine the correlation between kinesiophobia, pain severity, and functional disability. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The age of the elderly participants ranged from 60 to 84 years, with a mean age of 70.9±6.5 years. positive correlation was found between kinesiophobia and functional disability (r value=0.464, p-value=0.001), while no correlation was observed between kinesiophobia and pain intensity. Conclusion: It is concluded that kinesiophobia may contribute to disability, as a positive relationship between kinesiophobia and functional disability was observed in individuals with LBP. However, no correlation was found between kinesiophobia and pain intensity.