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Role of kinesiophobia on pain, disability and quality of life in people suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: (1) To explore the level of association between kinesiophobia and pain, disability and quality of life in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) detected via cross-sectional analysis and (2) to analyse the prognostic value of kinesiophobia on pain, disability and quality of life in this population detected via longitudinal analyses. DESIGN: A systematic review of the literature including an appraisal of the risk of bias using the adapted Newcastle Ottawa Scale. A synthesis of the evidence was carried out. DATA SOURCES: An electronic search of PubMed, AMED, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubPsych and grey literature was undertaken from inception to July 2017. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Observational studies exploring the role of kinesiophobia (measured with the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia) on pain, disability and quality of life in people with CMP. RESULTS: Sixty-three articles (mostly cross-sectional) (total sample=10 726) were included. We found strong evidence for an association between a greater degree of kinesiophobia and greater levels of pain intensity and disability and moderate evidence between a greater degree of kinesiophobia and higher levels of pain severity and low quality of life. A greater degree of kinesiophobia predicts the progression of disability overtime, with moderate evidence. A greater degree of kinesiophobia also predicts greater levels of pain severity and low levels of quality of life at 6 months, but with limited evidence. Kinesiophobia does not predict changes in pain intensity. SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS: The results of this review encourage clinicians to consider kinesiophobia in their preliminary assessment. More longitudinal studies are needed, as most of the included studies were cross-sectional in nature. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42016042641.
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“which is consistently associated with a poor prognosis [60,94,95,96].”
From Digital Rehabilitation for Elbow Pain Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study (2022) · cites this paper as [95]
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“evidence does point to an association between kinesiophobia and the development of disability over time; at least in adulthood [44].”
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Metadata
- Authors
- Luque-Suarez, A., Martinez-Calderon, J., & Falla, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Birmingham (GB)
- ORCID
- Falla, Deborah
- Venue
- British Journal of Sports Medicine
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2018-04-17
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 554-559
- ISSN
- 0306-3674 (ISSN-L)
- 1473-0480
- OpenAlex
- W2800915060
- Cited by
- 546
- References
- 116
- Citations by year
- 2026: 98 · 2025: 93 · 2024: 80 · 2023: 87 · 2022: 86 · 2021: 58 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 11
- FWCI
- 2.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- British Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RISalud Institutional Health Repository of Andalucía (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Universidad de Málaga
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Treatment
- Keywords
- kinesiophobia, chronic musculoskeletal pain, disability, quality of life, pain intensity, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, prognostic value, disability progression
- MeSH terms
- Cross-Sectional Studies, Fear, Disabled Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Humans, Quality of Life, Musculoskeletal Pain, Observational Studies as Topic
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