Comparison of Kinesiophobia in Sedentary Individuals with Non-Traumatic Upper and Lower Extremity Injuries: A Retrospective Study
Bihter Akinoğlu1
, Zeynep Arikan2 , Ayfer Ezgi Yilmaz3 , Aydan Örçelik4, Tuğba Kocahan4
1Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazit University, Ankara, Türkiye
2Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Afyonkarahisar University, Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye
3Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye
4Department of Sports Medicine, Gülhane Medical Faculty, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Türkiye
Keywords: Activity, kinesiophobia, pain, rehabilitation
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to compare kinesiophobia (fear of activities) in sedentary individuals with non-traumatic lower extremity and upper extremity injuries and to examine associated factors.
Materials and Methods: The study included 111 individuals diagnosed with overuse injuries and complaining of pain in their lower or upper extremities. Information regarding age, height, body weight, lower and upper extremity injury status, and affected side was obtained from the individuals' medical records. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale, and fear of movement was assessed using the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale. Individuals were divided into two groups; those with upper and lower extremity injuries. The relationships between Tampa score and age, body weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), duration of complaint, rest pain, and activity pain were examined using Spearman's ordinal correlation coefficient.
Results: No difference was found between the groups in terms of age, body weight, height, BMI, duration of complaint, rest pain, activity pain, and Tampa score (p=0.369; p=0.601; p=0.551; p=0.142; p=0.066; p=0.481; p=0.290; p=0.178). There was a difference between the groups in terms of night pain score (p=0.031). There was a difference between the groups in terms of the affected extremity (p=0.002). There was no difference between the groups in terms of the dominant side of the extremity (p=0.145). No significant correlation was found between the Tampa score and age, body weight, height, Body Mass Index, duration of complaints, rest pain, or activity pain (all p>0.05).
Conclusion: It was determined that non-traumatic injuries to the lower and upper extremities did not cause a difference in kinesiophobia, and activity fear was similar in these two groups. Furthermore, kinesiophobia was not associated with age, body weight, height, BMI, duration of complaints, rest pain, or activity pain.
Cite as: Akinoğlu B, Arikan Z, Yilmaz AE, Örçelik A, Kocahan T. Comparison of kinesiophobia in sedentary individuals with non-traumatic upper and lower extremity injuries: a retrospective study. Turk J Sports Med. 2026; https://doi.org/10.47447/tjsm.0936
The approval for this study was obtained from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey (Decision no: 03/1169, Date: 20/03/2025).
Concept: BA, AO, TK; design: BA, AO, TK; supervision: BA; data collection and/or processing: AO, TK; analysis and interpretation: AEY; literature review: ZA; writing manuscript: BA, ZA; critical reviews: BA. All authors contributed to the final version of the manuscript and discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to authorship and/or publication of the article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or publication of this article.
