Is the word "osteoporosis" a reason for kinesiophobia?

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease that causes weakening of the bones which increases the risk of fractures. Especially hip fractures lead to substantial physical, psychological, social and economic burden both for the patients and the governments. Exercises and physically active life style are essential preventive and therapeutic approaches for osteoporosis. Kinesiophobia is an irrational fear of movement due to the belief of susceptibility to injury. It is associated with lower levels of physical activity. Having a diagnosis of osteoporosis without an adequate education about the disease may lead to kinesiophobia in patients due to an illogical belief about increasing possibility of falls and related fractures during physical activity.

To evaluate relationship between the diagnosis of osteoporosis and kinesiophobia.

Case-control study.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Rehabilitation, University Hospital.

Fifty-four subjects with osteoporosis and fifty-four healthy subjects who were age- and gender-matched.

Demographic data of subjects (age, gender, weight, height, body mass index, disease duration) were recorded. The Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS) was applied to determine the level of fear of movement. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to evaluate mood status. The Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO-41) was performed to assess health related quality of life. Scores were compared between groups by Mann Whitney U test. Correlation between kinesiophobia and QUALEFFO-41 scores was performed by Spearman rank correlation.

Subjects with osteoporosis had higher level of kinesiophobia than healthy control subjects. There was no significant difference in HADS scores between the groups. QUALEFFO-41 total score was worse in subjects with osteoporosis than those in healthy subjects. There was a significant correlation between QUALEFFO-41 total score and kinesiophobia score in subjects with osteoporosis.

Subjects with osteoporosis have higher levels of kinesiophobia compared to age and gender-matched healthy subjects. Kinesiophobia may affect the quality of life in subjects with osteoporosis.

As physical activity is essential for bone and general health, individuals should be educated and counseled about osteoporosis and the importance of physical activity to overcome kinesiophobia.